A/N:

This here is something I wrote as an experiment. Depending on the feedback I get, I might continue. I have the whole story mapped out in my mind. If readers want it, that's the real question.

In this story, I really wanted to do The Order of the Phoenix storyline from the book (there will be soft references from the movie as well because the movie did a lot of stuff better than the book let's be honest), but with something that features Oliver Wood. He's one of those underrated characters that I feel should have gotten so much more development in the books; the entire Quidditch team deserved that. Apart from Fred and George, and maybe Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell, I cannot think of too much having been done with the other members of the team, especially Wood, who is in my opinion one of the best minor characters the books had to offer. I feel he could've had a place within the Order; he came back for the Battle of Hogwarts, he comes back when it matters. So, to me there should be no reason why he wouldn't be part of the fight against Voldemort.

All canon pairings will remain the same; I'm going to try following the book as closely as possible. But there will be some minor changes. For one thing, there will be the pairing of Oliver with Katie Bell. And I want the Quidditch team to be a little more heavily featured. As for point of view, it'll shift between Harry, Katie, Oliver, and maybe a few others, because we got the entire book in Harry's point of view. But I think showing Harry's point of view is just as important since he's the star here.

If you like the story, be sure to leave reviews behind and favor it and follow it. It would be very much appreciated.

Excelsior!

Chapter 1

The Boy Who Lied

"I promise not only the Wizarding population, but also the Muggles, that He Who Must Not Be Named hasn't returned. The Ministry for Magic intends to keep every citizen safe. As for Harry Potter's statements, the boy tells lies." – Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic.

Granted, the tragic death of Cedric Diggory has shaken the Wizarding community. Nevertheless, Diggory's death has simply been marked as a terrible accident. And Harry Potter's statements aren't reliable. He's dealing with trauma and is helplessly confused about what he witnessed during the final task of the Triwizard Tournament. As for Albus Dumbledore, he's suffering of old age. We have to remember that the Headmaster for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is about time for retirement. How are his statements liable?

The Minister for Magic insists that Potter, the famous Boy Who Lived, is simply saying You Know Who has returned because, perhaps, he's enjoying the attention that this puts upon him. He must be in need of public sympathy after having witnessed such a terrible accident.

Oliver Wood – reserve Keeper for Puddlemere United – glowered at the Daily Prophet article before him. Reading between the lines, he saw it was all pure rubbish.

This is bullshit, he thought, tearing the paper up and throwing it away in his garbage bin. Sighing, he turned to his pet owl, Conrad.

"There's no bloody need to bring me the Prophet anymore, Conrad," he said to the barn owl, stroking his feathers.

He moved to sit on his armchair near his fireplace, kicking his feet back on the coffee table and letting out a groan. The Daily Prophet was clearly too concerned with smearing the names of Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, two people the young Quidditch player had grown to respect over the years – Dumbledore having been his headmaster at school, and Harry being his star Quidditch player.

Sighing, he turned his head towards the door, waiting. Ever since the news released about Cedric Diggory's death, Wood knew that the Prophet was telling lies just to make the public feel good inside. Because he saw the photos of Cedric's body that released to the public. His eyes had been staring up, windowless, his body spread-eagled. No sign of a struggle. No wounds. Nothing. His heart had just stopped completely.

It hadn't been an accident. It had been a murder. And Harry had seen it happen; he'd brought Diggory's body back. And Oliver had seen the photos of Harry; of him returning from the Triwizard Tournament. His face had been tear-stricken. Oliver could tell whatever Harry had witnessed; it had been traumatic. But even mental trauma couldn't make Harry that delusional.

Oliver knew Harry well enough to know the boy didn't exaggerate when he witnessed something. Harry had been his Seeker for three years, starting in his first year, something completely unheard of at Hogwarts. When McGonagall had gone to him, introducing him to Potter, saying that Harry had raw talent, Wood couldn't believe it. He was aware of how famous Harry was; his father, James Potter, had an award for being a sublime Chaser for the Gryffindor team. But Wood didn't care about Potter being famous, as long as he could fly and catch that Golden Snitch. And when he saw Harry fly for the first time, just for the sakes of testing out his new Nimbus 2000, a gift from not just McGonagall, but Wood, too, he saw the pure joy on Harry's face. The boy loved the freedom of flying. And Oliver knew when he'd first praised Harry after his first practice with the whole team, Wood saw hints of shock and a light appear in the boy's green eyes. He wondered if those Muggles Potter lived with ever praised him for anything; if he'd ever been made to feel valuable. He'd made the mental note to shower the boy with praise whenever Harry brought them a win, telling Harry he did a good job, even if the weather was shotty and they didn't play the best. What mattered to him was making sure that Harry's morale was boosted, and that Harry knew how much he was worth.

Even during the worst of times, Wood made sure he was in the boy's corner. He knew more than anything that Harry hated the attention his fame brought him. After that incident with dueling club and Harry talking to the snake to prevent it from hurting a Muggle-born student (Justin, was that his name?), everyone automatically assumed the twelve-year-old to be the Heir of Slytherin, which was such rubbish. No way should Harry be Slytherin's ancestor. The boy was too brave, too friendly with Muggleborns and half-bloods, too compassionate, too polite, and naturally good to be the Heir of Slytherin.

As a result, the entire team defended him and protected him. Sure, Fred and George's idea was to shout it down the halls and make it a huge joke to see if Harry would find it funny, but the rest of the team vehemently told off anyone who talked behind Harry's back. Wood even glared at any Hufflepuffs who would dare to give Potter dirty looks and managed to silence them. He'd even told Marcus Flint to "keep his stupid mouth shut" or else, he'd have Katie, Angelina, and Alicia hex him (which they secretly did; Flint had ended up in the hospital wing after choking on soap suds, courtesy of Alicia telling him to "wash his mouth out").

Bloody hell, he even jinxed Flint with a curse that gave the Slytherin captain an intense bloody nose. That day burned in his mind so clearly . . .

It was a week before the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match. The entire team was vying for the win vehemently, but no one more so than Harry. This being his very first game, Wood knew that the eleven-year-old was feeling the pressure. He could see it all over Harry's face, which was why this week, he was determined to make sure Harry got that self-esteem boost. Luckily, the weather had been holding up, and they've had nothing but clear skies this early in November.

As they stepped onto the pitch, however, Wood noticed something – traces of green and silver of the Slytherin team.

"Ye've got to be kidding me!" he hissed.

"You booked this with McGonagall just a week ago, right?" inquired Angelina.

"I did," Wood said as he flagged down Marcus Flint, the Slytherin captain. He gave his rival the best glare that he could deliver as the Slytherins continued playing, not even seeming to notice them – rather, they were ignoring Wood completely.

"Oliver, you know that doesn't work with 'em," said Fred, flourishing his wand from his Quidditch robes. "They'll be in for a surprise."

"Don't," Oliver snapped at Fred sternly. "We're better than this. Ye know the rules. No dueling on the grounds."

"They're gonna bloody do it anyhow! So what's the point in being polite?" Fred asked venomously as one of the Beaters, Bole, aimed one of the Bludgers directly at them. It was about to hit Harry, who stood at Wood's side. Luckily for the younger boy, Katie was faster.

"IMPEDIMENTA! REDUCTO!" she yelled with a wave of her wand, causing the Bludger to first slow down, and explode into dust on the pitch, just when it was inches away from Harry's head.

"Nice one, Katie," said Alicia.

"Thanks," Harry said, looking white as a sheet.

"FLINT!" snapped Oliver, making Harry get behind him as he stood in front of his teammates protectively. "Get down 'ere! NOW!"

Flint, clearly annoyed that the Bludger got destroyed with the Reducto curse, flew towards the ground, his teammates in tow. He stalked over to Oliver, who stayed in front of Harry acting like a human shield. He knew Harry being the youngest Seeker they'd ever had, along with being The Boy Who Lived, he would attract unwanted attention. He also knew the Slytherin team played dirty. But somehow, he didn't expect that they would try injuring Harry right before the match even happened.

"What do ye think ye're doing, Flint?" Wood hissed angrily.

"Practicing," said Flint, his voice sounding like a sneer.

"I already booked the pitch for tonight! I booked it!" Wood snarled. "And just what the bloody hell were ye thinking?! Ye're gonna kill somebody!"

"Your Seeker has faced death before, and survived it," sneered Derrek, the other Beater. "I reckon he's used to it."

"Shut your mouth, Derrek!" spat Fred.

"Learn to respect your superiors, Weasley," sneered Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper.

"Oh, I hope you don't mean yourself!" Alicia said angrily.

"Don't talk to us, you little cunt!" snarled Flint.

Harry looked angry upon hearing this. He spoke up and said, "Don't talk to her like that!"

Flint responded by spitting in Alicia's face, before he turned on Harry. His wand was out of his robes and he had it raised. But as Flint yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" Wood knew what was coming, and he saw red. Nobody attempted to jinx one of his teammates and got away with it. He never made the first punch. But if he had to fight back, he would.

Acting on instinct, he grabbed Harry by the shoulder and shoved him to the ground as Katie pointed her wand at Potter, yelling, "Protego!" Then Oliver brandished his own wand and yelled, "Expelliarmus!" It not only disarmed Flint, but sent him flying backwards.

"Ye'll pay for that, Flint!" spat Oliver, keeping his wand on Flint before yelling, "Cicatrixium Maximum!" He made sure to aim it directly at Flint's nose as the Slytherin captain rose to his feet, still determined to jinx Harry. But the curse Wood aimed at him not only led to a large, purple bruise forming around his nose and eyes, but, for dark crimson to flood from his nostrils into his mouth.

The blood pooled so much; Flint's face was going chalk white. But Flint still seemed determined to hex Harry one more time. He grabbed his wand and aimed it at Harry, who was still on the ground lying on his stomach due to Wood shoving him out of the way.

"Stupefy!" he shouted.

"Protego!" yelled Alicia, shielding Harry as Oliver waved his wand and yelled, "Levicorpus!" They watched as Flint hung upside down by his ankles, his Quidditch robes dangling briefly before Oliver waved his wand again, yelling, "Stupefy!" He aimed the stunning spell at Flint's head, sending him falling to the ground, stunned and out of breath.

Wood panted as the other Slytherin members gathered around their captain, before running off like the cowards they were. But George even decided to join in on the jinxing, yelling, "Flipendo!" It sent Pucey falling off his feet, only for Montague to grab the Chaser by his collar and hauling him to his feet.

Wood turned to Harry, extending his hand outward. "Ye okay?" he asked.

Harry nodded, allowing the older boy to pull him to his feet as Angelina and Katie hugged him tightly.

"Nice one, Oliver," said Fred, punching his captain's shoulder as the Golden Snitch suddenly came into Harry's view. The Seeker instinctively reached a hand out and caught it.

"Yeah, you don't need the practice," grinned George as Alicia squeezed Harry's shoulder.

"If ye do that the day of the game, Flint's gonna piss 'imself," Oliver assured Harry. And the look on Harry's face was priceless. The light in his eyes and the grin that stretched across his face was the only affirmation Oliver needed.

"We've got this, Harry; you're gonna kick arse next Saturday," Katie grinned.

"Thank you," Harry said.

"C'mon, let's practice while we still can," said Wood. "'Cause I have the feeling Snape and McGonagall will be out here soon."

"Just tell McGonagall Flint did it first; she'll believe it," said Alicia said.

Whenever the Gryffindor team reminisced on that day, they didn't get to say Wood didn't care about his teammates. And after he graduated Hogwarts, he knew Harry would be left in good hands.

So, when news came out that Harry was reveling in the fame and attention after the Triwizard Tournament; that he was making up Cedric Diggory's murder to sympathy points, Wood knew it was bull. And he told that to anyone who came up to him, even his own teammates at Puddlemere United who didn't believe Potter was telling the truth.

The kid fought You Know Who to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, and had closed the Chamber of Secrets, for Merlin's sake! This wasn't a made-up story. And anybody who said Harry was just telling tall-tails was full of it.

Which was why, Wood knew he couldn't just sit about and do nothing. If he did, what kind of former Gryffindor would he be? He owed it to Harry, as repayment for Harry restoring the Gryffindor team's glory with that win of the Quidditch cup in Wood's seventh and final year. Harry was more than just his Seeker. He was a friend. So, when he reached out to Dumbledore, saying he intended to help, Dumbledore said he'd provide him some connections. And those people would be arriving at his home, that evening.

Finally, after hours of waiting, Oliver heard a quiet knock at the door of his flat. When he opened the door, he was glad to see the three familiar faces that greeted him.

Billy Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, and David Bell stood in the threshold, except at their feet, there was a shaggy black dog. He recognized Bill, given he'd been Head Boy when Oliver had arrived at Hogwarts. And Tonks had been sorted into the Hufflepuff House; she'd been in Charlie Weasley's year. David, on the other hand, was Katie Bell's father; it was no secret why he'd want to fight against You Know Who. He was a Muggle-born who married a Muggle, and a step-father of two Muggle boys, Patrick and Campbell Knight.

That made Katie, in the eyes of You Know Who's followers, the filthiest Mudblood in the Wizarding world. She was at least a quarter witch by blood. But she was one of the most gifted Quidditch players Oliver had seen; he knew talent when he saw it. Her father practically had her riding on a broomstick by the time she was five, and she had a future to be part of the Holyhead Harpies. Blood status didn't matter to him as much as a person's talent or integrity. It was all the reason why he gave Harry Potter a fair chance when the boy had only been a first-year.

He didn't recognize the black dog that was at Tonks's feet, though. Looking at the name tag around his neck, Oliver saw a name: "Snuffles."

"Wotcher, Wood," grinned Tonks.

"Hi, Tonks," he said, managing a smile as the three individuals, plus the dog, entered his apartment.

"You might want to close the blinds," suggested David.

"Why?" asked Oliver.

"Just do it," Bill said.

Wood nodded. With a wave of his wand, the blinds around his windows closed and his curtains shut. Tonks nodded at the dog once a silencing charm was placed on Wood's door.

"It's safe now," Tonks said to the dog. And Wood watched as the dog shifted to a human form – the form of . . . Sirius Black?

Wood was about to reach for his wand again, when David said, "Wood, it's fine."

"A most-wanted murderer who escaped Azkaban is in my home, and ye're telling me it's fine?" Wood asked, exasperated.

"It wasn't Sirius who did it," Tonks said. "The circumstances around him are . . . complicated."

"Complicated isn't the word I'd use," Black spat, shaking his head. "The man who really betrayed the Potters is still out there and murdered Cedric Diggory."

"Who then?" Wood inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Peter Pettigrew," Black whispered. "He conspired with Voldemort –"

David and Wood both flinched at the name. The only person Wood knew to be unafraid of saying You Know Who's name was Harry. Not because Harry was trying to be brave by saying it, but because he didn't see a point in not calling that man by his name.

"And I'm sure you've heard about Barty Crouch, Jr.," added Black.

"I know better than to believe the Prophet at this point," said Wood. "People say Crouch simply went mad; that he's lost it. But Harry, from what I know, says otherwise."

Bill nodded. "And with good reason," he said. "Crouch's son was under Veritaserum when he told his story; he'd been disguised as Mad Eye the entire time using Polyjuice Potion. And the truth would've gotten out if Fudge hadn't been paranoid and had his personal dementor with him to give Crouch Jr. the Kiss."

Wood nodded. "So now, he's trying to do damage control. And from what I read in the Prophet, his idea is blaming everyone else but himself."

"You've got that right, son," David said with a nod, grimly.

"So, how does this tie to ye?" Wood asked Black, raising an eyebrow.

"I was the original choice for the Potters' secret keeper of their home, since they named me Harry's godfather," Black said. "But I thought it'd be too obvious; the Black family consists of those who became Death Eaters, like my deranged cousin Bellatrix and my cousin-in-law, Lucius Malfoy. Tonks's mother, Andromeda, bless her heart, broke tradition and married a Muggle-born; she was always my favorite cousin. I suggested to Harry's parents we name Pettigrew the secret keeper, because he was someone weaker; no connection to my family at all. Problem was, Pettigrew hid behind those he thought would protect him and give him power. It was why he ran around with me, Remus Lupin, and James Potter at all."

Wood took time to consider this. He could hear the sincerity in Black's voice, and somehow, he found himself believing it.

"And let me guess?" surmised Wood, suddenly understanding. "He's now hiding behind Ye Know Who? He thinks that madman will protect him?"

Black nodded, grimly. "And that night, when he yelled to every Muggle who'd listen that I betrayed Harry's mother and father, he cut off his own finger after killing those witnesses, and transformed into a rat."

"Wait . . . so he was Scabbers? Percy Weasley's rat?" Wood asked, shocked. "But . . . he slept in our dorm! For four years!"

Bill nodded. "I'm still as shocked as you are," he said. "But whatever you do, Wood, do not mention Percy around my mum and dad."

Wood nodded. He heard about his old roommate's little promotion. Although he and Percy weren't close by any means, Percy had written to him about it. But Wood personally thought Percy was making a mistake, working so closely with Fudge. Oliver knew Percy to be a pompous prat. But this was a new level. That, and Oliver was angered that Percy had disowned his own family. He'd even sent Percy a Howler, telling him off for doing that to his own family, to Harry, someone whom Percy had in his home for whole summers at a time. If Harry really was a fame-seeking brat, wouldn't have Percy known that about him from the start of meeting him?

"So, what do we do now?" Wood inquired.

"Dumbledore knew he needed to prepare for a war," Tonks explained. "He restarted something called The Order of the Phoenix; a secret society. He formed it when You Know Who was first at large."

"Some of the original members included my uncles who died during the war; Mum's brothers," said Bill.

"And myself, Pettigrew, the Potters, and the Longbottoms. The Longbottoms suffered a fate worse than death, in my opinion," sighed Black.

"Ye think we're gonna need to go to war again?" asked Oliver.

Black nodded. "We haven't got much choice. And I hate not being able to tell Harry much. But Dumbledore is making us swear not to say a word. We think Voldemort is after something he didn't have last time."

"Like a weapon?" Wood asked.

Black nodded grimly once more. "We need as many people protecting it as possible. It's in the Department of Mysteries."

"But what can I do?" asked Oliver. "I'm not an auror. I'm not in the Ministry. I just play Quidditch for a living."

"We need as many foreign wizards as possible. You've got eyes on the Irish wizards due to your place on Puddlemere United," Bill explained. "That's where we need you. But you'll be in the meetings with us. And Dumbledore will be looking for somewhere to place you."

Oliver nodded. "So, when do I start?"

"Now," David said. "Go pack. We'll be apparating to Headquarters. Katie will be thrilled to see you." He threw a wink in Oliver's direction.

"She's there?" Oliver felt his stomach do summersaults at the mention of Katie's name. He'd gotten together with her at the end of her fifth year, and the thought of his girlfriend being there left him feeling relieved.

"Along with Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnett, and the Weasleys. Or at least, the Weasleys who can be there. Charlie's stationed in Romania," explained David, smiling lightly.

Oliver grinned. He felt better knowing his old Quidditch teammates would be there. But there was a question on his mind.

"What about Potter?" he asked. "When's he going to know?"

"We can't say anything yet to him," said Sirius. "I don't agree with Dumbledore, keeping Harry in the dark like this. But he insists upon it for Harry's own safety."

Oliver was about to question further, but before another word could be exchanged, they heard the loud screech of an owl outside Oliver's flat. Wood sighed and went to open the window. Only when he opened it, he saw the owl was holding The Daily Prophet. Right on the front cover, the headline read, "Potter: User of Underage Magic." Skimming through it, he saw that the article read Harry had used the Patronus Charm, which meant . . .

"Fuck!" cursed Wood, throwing the paper down on the table, both angered and amazed at how quickly news like this could spread. "Looks like dementors got to 'im."

Sirius and Bill's faces went white with rage. David and Tonks looked especially angry.

"Dumbledore won't stand for this. They're looking to expel him from school," said Sirius, pulling out some parchment and writing a quick note. He conjured an envelope and sealed it, before turning to Wood. "Do you think your owl can find Harry and give this to him?"

"Yes," said Oliver, nodding.

"Well, we better get back to headquarters. Dumbledore will pull some favors; probably to get Harry a hearing," said Tonks.

Wood nodded in agreement.

"Go and pack, Oliver. I sense Dumbledore will be calling a meeting, immediately. And we best not be late," said Bill.

Wood nodded, rushing to grab his trunk. But before he did so, he turned to his owl.

"Conrad, meet me at the Order's headquarters once ye get that letter to Harry," he said. "Ye know where to find me, if need be."

The owl hooted quietly to signify he understood.

"And give Katie my love," he added softly to the owl, before rushing to pack his trunk. He unlocked the owl's cage and Conrad proceeded to fly out the opened window, into the night with Sirius's letter for Harry. He just hoped when he got to the Order's headquarters, that they'd find out some more answers. He also hoped that Harry was alright.

At Number 12 Grimmauld Place, Katie Bell read the Daily Prophet article with her nostrils flared angrily. Normally a kind and gentle witch with a pacifistic mindset, the sixteen-year-old girl's hands shook as she skimmed the article from top to bottom. She could see Angelina and Alicia pacing the room, and she could hear cursing coming from Fred and George.

"This is just outrageous!" she heard Hermione Granger saying angrily. "It was self-defense; they simply can't expel Harry! Oh, how I hope he's alright!"

"He'll be fine, Hermione," Ron Weasley was saying.

"This is such rubbish!" Katie hissed, narrowing her eyes as she read the paper. She slammed it down on the ground.

Looking around the room, it was quite cluttered. She, Angelina, Alicia, and her half-brothers, Patrick and Campbell, were all crammed in one room, with Angelina and Alicia sharing one of the king-sized beds, her brothers in sleeping bags, and her sleeping on a chaise lounge seat in another corner. But, it was the best Molly, Arthur, and Sirius could do for them, given the circumstances.

When Katie's dad announced he'd be joining the Order of the Phoenix, Katie had to live in extensive worry for the safety of her father, as well as her mother and her half-brothers. If they were a normal wizarding family, that was one thing. But Katie's family was anything but ordinary. Her dad was a Muggle-born wizard, and when he married Katie's mother, Cheryl, a Muggle, he knew the risks. He knew the racism and prejudice his daughter would face, in not just the wizarding world, but the Muggle world as well. But he could hardly bring himself to care. Now, with You Know Who back at large, her father felt this urgency to fight back. That was especially since during the height of the First Wizarding War, You Know Who had gone after Katie's granddad and grandmother.

Katie shuddered at the thought of the grandparents she never got to meet. Glancing upward, she saw Angelina was shaking, and Alicia looked outraged. Even her brothers had their hands tightly fisted.

Of course, when her father joined, that meant moving into Headquarters at the start of the summer. And shortly afterward, Hermione, Angelina, and Alicia followed; Hermione insisting on staying close by, and Angelina and Alicia not wanting to leave their best friend alone.

Suddenly, she heard the front door to the house opening. Rushing towards the staircase, she hoped to see Oliver Wood entering the house. Only, she didn't see him; rather, it was Professor Dumbledore, along with Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.

Except, Dumbledore didn't look himself at all. In fact, he looked infuriated. His eyes were steel. His lips were tight. And she could see just by looking at him he was about to start yelling. Katie flinched as Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, Angelina, Alicia, and her brothers joined her. The last time Dumbledore had looked this angry, dementors had come onto the school grounds and attacked Harry, throwing him off his broomstick, which cost Gryffindor their match.

But this was a far different kind of anger. And Katie knew well enough to stay away. She saw her mum emerging, along with Mrs. Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Professor," said Mrs. Weasley tightly.

Cheryl Bell glanced upward. "Katie, back to your room, darling."

"But Mum –!" Katie began protesting.

"Oliver will be here any moment," Cheryl said in an assuring tone. "Stay in your room until then, please."

Katie opened her mouth to protest again, but Angelina leaned a hand on her friend's arm. "C'mon Katie."

Katie sighed reluctantly, following the others to Ron's room, which Harry would share with him when the time came. She moved to sit on what would be Harry's bed, wringing her hands together.

"I don't think I've ever seen Dumbledore that angry," Hermione whispered.

"At least now we know why he's the only one You Know Who fears," Ginny said.

"Yeah, tell me 'bout it," said Fred, fishing an extendable ear out of his pocket.

"Fred, you really shouldn't have another go at those," scolded Alicia softly.

"Mum'll be so mad if she knew you were listening," Ron said.

"But Harry's our friend," protested George. "We've got every right to know. 'Sides, Angelina, Alicia, and us? We're of age."

"But we're not part of the Order," reminded Angelina. "We can't be, at least until we graduate."

"Rubbish," scoffed Fred, shaking his head. "I'll get use of it later during the meeting."

"Just don't get caught," warned Ginny, sighing as she sat down beside Katie, as they began hearing shouting down in the parlor.

"WHY WOULD MUDUNGOUS LET THE BOY OUT OF HIS SIGHT, ESPECIALLY TONIGHT!" they heard McGonagall roaring.

"I SWEAR, WHEN HE GETS BACK HERE –!" shouted Mrs. Weasley.

"SILENCE!" Dumbledore boomed. "VOICES DOWN!"

The kids all flinched harshly. Dumbledore was usually always so calm, even in most dire situations. He never raised his voice at a student, let alone put his hands on anyone to physically punish. Hearing and seeing him so angry didn't sit well with anyone.

"Does he ever get like this?" asked Campbell, raising an eyebrow at his sister.

"Never," Katie said, shaking her head. "If he does it's rare."

"So, that must mean it's really bad," surmised Patrick.

Hermione, Ginny, and Ron all nodded.

"When's the last time you heard him scream like that?" whispered Katie.

"When there was a troll in the dungeon, released by Quirrell on Halloween, first year," sighed Ron.

"I remember that," Alicia recalled, shuddering at the memory.

"What made it better was he had You Know Who stuck to the back of his head," said Angelina around a smirk.

"Which means we were throwing snowballs at You Know Who during Christmas," laughed George, which got Katie's brothers laughing too.

"Guys, that's so not funny." Despite herself, Hermione laughed softly.

"Actually, it kind of is," grinned Katie. But she kept her ears open for the door, hoping to hear Oliver.

"He'll be fine, Katie," Angelina assured her. "And Harry'll get back here safely. Mad Eye and Dumbledor will be sure of it."

"Still can't believe last year, we weren't learning from Mad Eye at all," Fred said, shaking his head.

"Yeah," Katie agreed, still keeping her ears open for Oliver's arrival.

"Wood'll be fine, Katie," George assured her. "You know he's too thick to let a couple Death Eaters get in his way. 'Sides, nothing'll stop him from getting back to you."

"It's not just Ollie I'm worried about," Katie said, using her nickname for her boyfriend, which got Fred and George gagging in disgust, causing Angelina to glower at Fred before moving to stand next to him, placing a soft kiss to his cheek. Ever since the Yule Ball last Christmas, Fred and Angelina have grown steady.

"It's Harry, too," agreed Hermione, sitting on Ron's bed as Crookshanks leapt onto the mattress, curling around her legs before he hopped over to Katie's lap, rubbing himself against her chest and purring as Katie began stroking his ears.

"Do you think he'll get off?" asked Ginny.

"Let's hope so. I don't want to lose my Seeker. We won't be able to find another like him," Angelina said, wrapping her arm around Fred's waist. "Besides, I've got the feeling it's between him or me for Quidditch captain this year."

"Bloody likely," said Fred. "Wood's been training you to captain the team since we joined during Charlie's last year."

"But Harry was Wood's pride and joy," reminded Alicia. "Not that Wood ever played favorites, but we all know how much he loves Harry. Don't you remember when we won the Cup? He was first to hug Harry crying like a baby. Until then I never saw Wood shed any tears."

Katie smiled at the memory, reminiscing on the day they won the Quidditch Cup . . .

They were seated in the change rooms, waiting for Oliver to give his pre-match speech. Except, Wood couldn't seem to come up with the words. They were still in shock that they were here, about to play the final game of the season. All Wood could manage through a tight throat was, "Let's win."

Katie was the first to go up to him, whispering, "We will," before grabbing him in a firm hug and placing a soft kiss against his cheek, which got them both blushing. But they were soon joined by Angelina and Alicia, and then, Fred, George, and Harry. They found themselves huddled in a group hug, the seven of them standing with arms wrapped around one another's shoulders, foreheads touching, like they'd done many times after winning a match. Because deep down, they knew they already won. Now, they just had to play.

The seven of them silently prayed to whatever higher power there was out there; they prayed to Merlin for all they cared. Harry's soft mumble of, "Love you guys" was enough to bring tears to Angelina's eyes, and for Wood and Fred – who were on either side of him – to wrap their arms around his waist and pull him up slightly, off his feet as Alicia ruffled his hair in affection, and Katie leaned in, placing a kiss to his forehead.

They were going to do this. No question.

"Ye've got this, Potter," Wood mumbled to the entire team's little brother.

But she was pulled from the memory at the sound of a loud crack outside the house – the sound of someone apparating. Katie peaked through the window of her temporary bedroom, to see Oliver standing outside with Sirius, Tonks, Bill, and her dad. A wide smile appeared across her face as she burst out the door of her room, determined to greet Oliver first thing when he entered the house.