I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Note: Thank you everyone for all the kind words, the follows, and the favorites. I am still writing a lot for this fanfic and am finding new inspiration to keep it going. I hope it continues to live up to your expectations. I was going to post once a week but I have so many chapters done, I wanted to thank everyone by posting more often. I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 7 – Growing Concern

Oliver sat by the fire in the common room. He was tired but pleasantly so. Practice had gone very well all things considered. Angelina had threatened the twins only once for their antics. She, Katie, and Alicia had found their groove they developed last year and were working in sync. The twins, being the human version of Bludgers, continued to be one of the best Beaters teams he had ever seen. He knew he was getting better as Captain and Keeper as well.

Harry was the real surprise, one that Oliver liked. The boy was a natural on the broom. He flew very well and was able to spot the Snitch reasonably well. The best part was how strangely open Harry was to the team. He accepted all advice without hesitation. That was part of the problem since he wholeheartedly believed whatever nonsense Fred and George told him but they thankfully have not taught him any bad habits as far as flying or Quidditch went.

Most kids that grew up flying or playing Quidditch usually came with all sorts of preconceived notions or self-cultivated bad habits. Most were beyond arrogant, refusing any kind of advice. They believed they were the best and had nothing to learn, they were the worst kind of team mates.

Harry thankfully was nowhere near like that. He accepted his shortcomings when it came to Quidditch and flying and soaked up information like a sponge. Oliver knew that he had the makings of an excellent player and could stack up against all sorts of players. In the last few weeks he had improved literally every practice.

His enthusiasm and increasing abilities were having a positive impact on the team. Each player had spent time with Harry, teaching him their tricks as well as their positions on the team. In helping Harry they were helping themselves, solidifying their own abilities. Their team work was on the rise and it was one of the strongest teams Oliver had ever had the honor playing on.

Not to mention the other factor in their team comradery.

Oliver did not pretend to know everything that was going on. The only thing he was sure of was that Harry had not had a…decent…childhood. It was painfully easy to see once you noticed it. Katie was adamant that something was wrong and Oliver trusted her instincts. By now everyone on the team seemed to realize something was going on with Harry.

He was inordinately proud at how everyone had reacted. The team was close as teams went before, got along well enough and were friends to one degree or another. With Harry on the team, the way that everyone was rallying together to support the boy, they were approaching true friendship. Instead of each player being concerned only for themselves, they were caring about Harry and in turn, each other. It was a good thing.

Oliver stared into the fire. Even he, who barely thought about much else that was not related to Quidditch, thought there was something wrong about Harry's personal life, something that should not be. He still was not sure if they could do anything about it, not to mention what it exactly was, but he also knew they could not simply stand by and do nothing. Harry needed them. It was as simple as that.

"Ahem."

Oliver belatedly realized that this was at least the second time someone tried to get his attention, quite possibly the third. The someone had stood to the side of his line of sight, someone with a very determined look on her face. It took him a moment to place the expression, not to mention the person, then he knew he saw her last at dinner the other day.

"Oh hello," he said genially. "Was lost in thought. Sorry about that."

"Clearly," she replied succinctly. The only description of the look on her face was 'clear disapproval' and it was so reminiscent of Professor McGonagall, Oliver nearly reacted like he was sitting in her classroom.

"So, can I help you with something?" he asked mildly.

"I wanted to speak with you."

"Alright, and your name?" Because if I call you the Girl that Hates Peas, I don't think it'll go well for me.

"Hemione Granger."

"I'm Oliver Wood."

"Charmed." It was clear from her tone that she was anything but. "I want to file a protest."

Olive was very much confused. "A protest? With me? Shouldn't you be talking to one of the Prefects?"

"I will, if you do not take me seriously. It is a protest against you after all." The girl's eyes flicked towards Harry who was currently sitting on a couch with Katie. They and Alicia were looking over homework.

"Ah," Oliver said knowingly.

A crowd was starting to gather. No one circled around the two, though Angelina slid up behind Wood's chair, looking down at the bushy haired first year. Hermione did not look intimidated in the slightest, eyes not leaving Oliver.

Oliver set the notes he was working on aside and focused completely on Hermione. For a moment she looked pleased, seeing how seriously Oliver was taking her.

"So, this is about the Quidditch team then?"

"Clearly. You are the team Captain."

"Last I checked." Oliver chuckled to himself. He knew if he smiled now or laughed, she would take offense to it and the conversation would decidedly become hostile. He could almost see the indignation on Angelina's face. Onlookers grinned and whispered to each other, highly amused at seeing a fifth year student being lectured by a first year.

He was amused as well. A little impressed by her nerve too.

"You are pushing the team too hard. It is unfair to the players."

"Am I really? I've been known to have long practices in the past and some have told me that I schedule too many." Angelina quietly snorted behind him. Fred and George loudly snorted from across the room. Oliver ignored them. "However I like to think my practices this year have been reasonable. My team knows that they can talk to me whenever they like."

"What about the ones who are uncomfortable?"

By now Harry, Katie, and Alicia have caught on to the confrontation. Harry looked worried. Katie looked serious. Alicia looked like she wished to immortalize this moment forever and grinned almost crudely at them.

She always did like seeing me be put in my place, Oliver thought fondly and exasperatedly. "Who would that be? I've told my players time and again that I will always listen to them and care for their well-being."

"Don't listen to him Hermione!" George called.

"He's a cruel one he is!" Fred lamented.

"We practice in all weathers and all times!"

"Save us from the Wooden one!"

The common room burst into laughter and while Oliver rolled his eyes at the twins, he chuckled along. He knew he was a fairly single minded about Quidditch. Obsessive some have uncharitably, and somewhat accurately, described. He had known plenty of Captains that were worse than him though, at least as far as he thought.

Only two people had not joined in the laughter. One of them was glaring at him. One of them was looking worried.

Hermione glared at the twins and they immediately lapsed into silence. Her eyes swept the room and all stopped laughing out loud. "It's not funny," she said with steel in her tone.

"I'd agree if anyone on my team felt that way," Oliver said seriously. "Honestly felt that way. I know I run a strict team, but it is a team. The team is everyone. It's a family. I take that very seriously."

Out of the corner of Oliver's eye, Harry flinched at that. At the word family the boy had looked like a deer caught in headlights, freezing solid and then looking down. Katie noticed and Oliver felt Angelina stiffen behind him. Oliver felt concern at that reaction as well but he knew better than to ignore Hermione at this moment.

"It may not seem like it but it is," he continued. "The team is a family and we choose each other. We take care of each other. I appreciate your concern but rest assured, I take care of my players."

"By making them practice to exhaustion?" Hermione asked snidely. "Coming inside soaking wet and barely able to eat?"

It certainly did rain during practice and the team had gone to dinner soggy but in high spirits.

"I can't control the weather," Oliver said mildly, trying to keep his tone from being sarcastic.

"No but you control practice times, allegedly."

More laughter rang out and this time Oliver joined in utterly. Hermione did not quite glare at anyone this time but she did look pleased, like one did when they scored a point.

"We play in all weathers so we practice in all weathers," Angelina said in a condescending tone. "Maybe if you make your opinion known to the weather it would be more amenable." Hermione's head snapped up and she glared at the tall third year girl. "If we don't feel well enough to practice, we tell Wood and he let's us off. We all know that and we've told Harry too. We don't make him do anything he doesn't want to."

"Aside from force feeding him because it suits you," Hermione replied scathingly.

Oliver felt the chair creak as Angelina gripped the back of it with both hands. "Why you bossy- Oh hi Harry!"

Harry approached them, waving shyly to Oliver and Angelina. "Hermione," he said softly to the irate girl, "it's fine. Really. I don't mind at all."

"You came in shivering and you were falling asleep at dinner! And you still have homework to do, something we are supposed to be doing here at school. Not a silly game." Hermione studiously ignored six pairs of eyes glaring at her at that moment.

"It's not silly, I love it," Harry said. "It's so much fun. And the team is super nice to me. They…care about me." He had the tiniest hitch in his voice when he said that. "They do and they tell me."

"Well, I mean, that's good because they should," Hermione blustered. "But do they only care because you're on the team and they can't play without you?"

Oliver slid his hand behind the chair and grabbed Angelina's leg, squeezing tight. He felt her about to protest and thankfully his touch kept her from it because he knew she would have said many things not fit for young ears. He shook his head at Katie who had jumped up, her face furious. Alicia grabbed her, pulling her back down. The twins had opened their mouths but had closed them abruptly, looking mutinous.

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't think so. They care about me. They asked about me because of last night and said it was good to do but dangerous. They're really helping me. Katie and Alicia are helping me with homework too, they think doing well is important like you do."

He looked very shy and vulnerable for a moment. "I…think you care about me too, by confronting Wood like this. Is…is that right?"

Hermione went crimson. "Well, yes of course. I care about you and that's why I wanted to make sure they weren't treating you poorly."

Harry smiled and it transformed his face. Made him look alive. "Thank you, Hermione," he said sincerely. "That's very nice of you. But please don't get mad at the team. They are my friends, like you."

Hermione sputtered a bit before she turned back to Oliver. "It seems I have an apology to make," she said stiffly.

Oliver shook his head. "It's fine. We're all on the same page here. No harm done."

Hermione bobbed her head and then walked swiftly away, sitting in a chair and hiding her red face behind a very large book. Harry relaxed visibly as she did, shooting a glance at Oliver. He looked even more relieved when the older boy smiled warmly. He walked back to Katie and Alicia, sitting back down and breathing a sigh of relief, tinged with happiness.

"I really dislike that girl," Angelina hissed.

"I like her," Oliver said softly. "She's not afraid to speak her mind, much like others I know."

"You better not mean me or else you and I are going to have words."

"Perish the thought." Oliver smiled at Angelina's angry mutters. "Besides, I thought you and her share a certain interest in someone's well-being."

The mutters faded. "I suppose there's that," Angelina admitted. She sighed. Then her tone turned playful. "So, we're a family are we?"

"I like to think so."

"So that makes you the Aunt that likes to get in everyone's business and tell them what to do?"

He laughed. "Something like that. You must be the Da. All big and scary looking but secretly sweet. With a penchant for discipline."

He laughed harder as she said some of those unfit for younger audience words that he knew she was saving.