Chapter Twenty-Seven
It had taken an hour and a half for Harry and Olivia to clean up the mess she'd made. By that time, though, the classroom looked better than new—all the cleaning spells Olivia and Harry had used had gotten rid of the inch thick layer of dust that had covered everything.
Olivia refused to tell Harry what had sparked her angry rage. As a result, Harry had spent the week watching her carefully out of the corner of his eye. He was waiting expectantly for anything to set her off again. He was worried about her, and she knew it. Olivia spent her time trying to show Harry that was alright and that she wouldn't go on a mass destruction rampage again.
Olivia had hidden Seamus' accusations from Harry, because she was afraid of what Harry would do to his dorm mate. She didn't want to cause problems within their year, and she began to think she'd been silly for overreacting about Seamus' dumb comments. It didn't matter, she kept telling herself. She tried to forget it ever happened.
Tonight was the first meeting of what Hermione had decided would be called Dumbledore's Army. The night before Dobby had approached Harry with the perfect place for the group to train, the Room of Requirement. Olivia had gone with him and the free house elf, and was just as surprised by the wonderful space that was fit for all sorts of training. It was better equipped than what Lena had made her train with over the summers.
She felt this was going to be a success in that it would both give students an opportunity to get better with their defensive spell work and give Harry a bit of confidence. She felt that he wasn't altogether having a good year with Umbridge and the Ministry denying that Voldemort was back. Half the school thought that Harry was a liar. It would do him good to see that others beside her, Ron and Hermione believed him.
She had found a place out of the way in the common room after Harry, Ron and Hermione had gone to the first meeting. She'd started with her schoolwork first-an essay for Transfiguration and Potions and a chapter in History of Magic. She'd finished the work quickly as she'd only had to refer to her book for the Transfiguration essay. Her potions essay was finished quickly as she didn't need a book to address the topic, her training with Lena had made her knowledge of potions extensive.
After that was finished and put away, Olivia pulled out the books she had gotten from the library. She hadn't had an opportunity since Saturday to look through them, and she'd begun to wonder if she would ever have the chance. She looked at her watch and hoped that she would get another hour before the others came back from the Room of Requirement.
Her search for a clue about the mysterious symbol was so intent that she didn't notice Seamus sit down on the coffee table before her. He had to clear his throat several times before Olivia looked up from the heavy tome in her lap.
Olivia's eyes took several seconds to focus on the boy before her, but when she realized Seamus was the one who'd interrupted her research she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Working on Arithmancy again, huh?" He asked lifting his eyes suggestively as though Arithmancy were code for something else.
"Can I help you?" Olivia returned in an annoyed voice.
"I just noticed that you didn't go to the meeting tonight."
"Neither did you," Olivia pointed out closing the book shut. "What do you want, Seamus? I'm trying to study."
"I just wanted to talk. Get to know one another better. I think we have a lot in common."
Olivia sighed. "Like?"
"We both see through Potter's shite, for example."
"Seamus, I don't know what you've heard, but—"
"It's obvious," Seamus said interrupting the girl's reply, "that you're not joining his stupid club, that you don't believe him. Why else would you just happen to have 'work' to do when they meet?"
"Has it occurred to you that I might really have 'work' to do which prevents me from attending?"
"Oh, come off it, Olivia! You're secret's safe with me. Half the school thinks, like I do, that you're just supporting Harry in name so that they don't lock him up in St. Mungo's where he belongs."
"Listen, Seamus," Olivia said through clenched teeth finally getting Seamus' attention at how angry she was getting, "I believe Harry's story. He's back! Get used to the idea! I support Harry and Dumbledore completely, not just in name."
Olivia threw her book into her bag and prepared to go upstairs to her room where Seamus couldn't get to her. She'd managed to get a few feet away and had just seen Harry and the others enter the common room when a hand grabbed her wrist spinning her around.
Before she could snatch her arm away, rough lips had found themselves on her own. The bag she'd thrown over her shoulder dropped to the floor, and she froze as her brain was too shocked to take in the situation. Harry's face went red then purple, and Ron tried to hold him back. Harry's fury was too strong for Ron's half-hearted attempts to prevent a fight between his best mate and their classmate.
It seemed as though the entire common room stopped and turned to watch the spectacle as Harry march towards the couple. Before he reached them, Olivia's mind seemed to regain control. She pushed the boy away roughly, and swung her clenched fist back quickly to connect with his nose when he moved back towards her.
The entire common room heard the sound of breaking bone as Olivia's face contact Seamus' face. Everyone stood with their mouths open as Seamus cowered and held his bleeding nose. It wasn't enough for Harry, though, who had paused when Olivia punched Seamus. He reeled his fist back and, with as much force as he could, punched Seamus in the eye.
This sent the over balanced boy flat on his back groaning and clutching both his bleeding nose and swelling eye. Harry stepped forward to continue his attack on Seamus, but Olivia quickly stepped in front of her angry boyfriend. Don't, she warned him.
It was too late
"You stay away from her, Finnigan," Harry said under his breath as one of the seventh year prefects moved through the crowd to break up the fight.
Dean and Neville were instructed to take Seamus to the infirmary while Olivia and Harry were forced to follow the prefect out of the common room to meet with Professor McGonagall. The two stood quietly without remorse before their head of house. Olivia cradled the hand she'd used to punch Seamus in her other. It was red, swollen, and beginning to bruise. She was afraid that she'd broken some of the bones. Harry kept his at his side, but it, too, was red and swollen although not hurting him as much as Olivia's.
"I'm supremely disappointed in the both of you," McGonagall began once she'd dismissed the prefect. "Fighting in your own house! You ought to be ashamed. Well? What have you to say in your own defense?"
Harry opened his mouth to explain, but Olivia beat him to it. "Seamus Finnigan forced himself on me, Professor. I was simply reacting in self-defense as was Harry."
McGonagall had been pacing agitatedly, but she moved to her desk and sat after Olivia had explained. "What happened exactly?"
Olivia looked over at Harry whose face was still red and angry that Seamus had forced his kiss on his Olivia. She grabbed his hand gently with her good one entwined their fingers together to let him know it was alright, to calm down.
"I was studying," she began turning to meet her professor's gaze, "when Seamus started bothering me. He's been trying to convince me all year that I don't really believe Harry's story about You-Know-Who's coming back. I got up to leave, because he was making me angry. He grabbed my arm and kissed me against my will."
"And then you hit him?" McGonagall asked trying to hide her amused expression.
Olivia nodded.
"And then you, Potter, hit him again?" She asked her amused expression falling away quickly to be replaced with displeasure.
"Yes, Professor," Harry replied holding his head up.
McGonagall took a deep breath before rising to stand in front of her desk to delve out their punishment.
"I shouldn't have to remind you that I will not tolerate violence from my house. Twenty-five points will be taken from you, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Finnigan. Miss Townsend, I will be writing to your guardian about this." Olivia cringed inwardly knowing that Lena's lecture would be worse than having points taken. "You and Mr. Potter will be serving detention tomorrow night with Professor Sprout, and Mr. Finnigan will also be given detention as well as receiving a very stern lecture from me."
Olivia and Harry looked at each other amazed. They'd both expected harsher punishments that what they'd been given. Detention with the Herbology professor was much better than with Snape, and Olivia hadn't had any points taken away from their house.
McGonagall dismissed them instructing the two to visit the infirmary to have their hands checked by Madame Pomfrey. As they turned to leave, McGonagall asked Olivia to stay behind for a moment. Harry left the room to wait outside.
"I wanted you to know that when I write to Lena I'll be telling her that I believe you acted appropriately under the circumstances and advise her from giving you a harsh punishment," the older woman said with a twinkle in her eye. "If another boy ever does that again, I hope you'll respond the same way, and I hope the other girls learned something from this as well."
Olivia was dumbfounded by her professor's admission. She'd as much as told the girl that she condoned her actions. Olivia couldn't hold back her smile as she left the classroom and joined Harry. It was almost funny.
She was occupied with her own thoughts when Harry pulled her into a dark corridor far enough away from the classroom for privacy.
Are you okay? He asked cradling her face between his hands tenderly.
I am now, She replied flattening her hands against his chest. Are you?
I wanted to kill him. I wanted—
It's over now, she interrupted wanting to calm him down. I don't think we have to worry about him or anyone else bothering us from now on. Don't think about it. I'm yours. Now and forever.
Harry leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. I'm sorry you got in trouble, but I'm not sorry for hitting him.
Olivia smiled. I'm not sorry you did either, but promise me you won't get into a fight with him later or anyone else. I don't want our house to hate you for losing points.
I promise if you'll do one thing.
What?
Harry leaned forward and pressed his lips gently against hers. He moved his hands back until his fingers were tangled in her hair deepening their kiss. Olivia felt her knees grow weak, and she snaked her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his for support.
Harry was a little clumsy at first with his kiss, but as Olivia tilted her head back and to one side he gained confidence. She parted her lips willingly, and they explored each other eagerly.
McGonagall reached the infirmary before the couple, and was busy lecturing Seamus doggedly when the two finally entered holding hands. She didn't remark on this, but she did smile to herself as Madame Pomfrey began to examine their hands at the other end of the infirmary.
