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

Note: I thought for a long time how I wanted to phrase this. I thought for a while to not even address it but I want to make my feelings known.

My last chapter apparently caused a lot more trouble than I thought it would. Do not misunderstand me, it's perfectly fine to not like a character or a pairing. There are ones I don't enjoy myself and don't read fanfics if they are the focus. That's perfectly valid. However, to be told not to do something or to be told that the story is fine except for this one tiny detail, caused by what I thought was a fairly inconsequential line, is really disheartening.

I purposefully did not do a ship tag because when I started, I didn't have a really distinct one in mind. As I wrote and planned and thought, I came up with one that, to me and hopefully to others, will be very nice and satisfying. I came up with an end and big points I wanted to touch on throughout, and wanted to write and see what happens in between. I am currently on 62 chapters and am half-way through year three. I fully intend on finishing this fanfic past graduation, and want to really flesh out the story. A part of me naively thought it would be fun to not have a ship tag so everyone can explore along the way.

To be told that all the time I put into this, threatened, to say that everything I wrote is for naught because of one detail really upset me.

Fine, I will say it. This will not be a Harry and Hermione pairing. There will eventually be romance. They will not be romantically involved. Hermione will still play a role throughout the entire story. I was actually really happy how my last chapter came out because I like how Alicia is developing as a character, and thought it was a nice way to weave the story together. One of my favorite things is seeing little details from earlier chapters be brought up again in later ones. Call backs are fun to me and I am setting stuff up for future chapters. I really thought people would find the ending detail more entertaining.

I hope this provides some insight into my thinking and I thank you for your views, follows, and reviews.

The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 39 – Rogue Bludgering

"Your breakfast of Champions, Captain!"

Oliver smiled and accepted the half sandwich from Harry. "Hey you remembered!" he exclaimed. The sight of Harry holding his own sandwich in his mouth like a bone always made him smile.

The Seeker nodded, admirably keeping the sandwich from falling apart and spilling everywhere. "We won our two games last year and we ate them before both. I didn't eat it before the third one and we lost." He looked crestfallen, disappointed by the memory.

Oliver tousled his hair. "Hey there were extenuating circumstances." Truthfully there was. The game took place barely days after Harry's encounter with the fallen Professor Quirrell who was possessed by Voldemort though only a few knew that last part.

Harry shrugged and chewed voraciously. "I mean, yes I suppose, but that doesn't negate the fact that Champion sandwiches weren't eaten before."

"Can't fault that logic I suppose," Oliver said. "Fuel up Harry. We need the extra energy to take it to the Slytherins today." He leaned in and whispered softly. "Let's make them pay for that comment."

Harry's emerald green eyes glinted dangerously. "Going to make Malfoy eat his words!"

"That's my boy!" Oliver yelled and the pair exchanged high fives. He watched proudly as the second year distributed sandwiches to the rest of the team and sat with his friends.

"I can't believe you started such a ridiculous tradition," Alicia complained when Oliver sat down. "Look at what you've done."

"I see and I love it," Oliver replied smugly. Most of the Gryffindor students were eating breakfast sandwiches like the one Oliver made a year ago: a slice of bread folded over eggs and meat. Some added vegetables, some made theirs with fruit and jam, but almost everyone in the House copied Oliver and Harry. "I notice you have one on your plate."

Alicia rolled her eyes. "Only because Harry gave me one, I wasn't about to refuse."

"He didn't just give you one, he made it for you," Katie said as she ate hers. "It was so cute. He was taking orders and assembling them."

Angelina had polished one off and was starting a second. "The twins said Harry's a good cook. He cooked for them at the Burrow a few times."

"It's true," Percy said as he ate one himself. "He's quite accomplished in the kitchen." He frowned slightly. "Apparently it was necessary for him when he was younger." He looked embarrassed at their faces. "Sorry, didn't mean to put off your appetite."

Oliver clapped his shoulder. "It's okay Percy." He gestured to the girls and himself. "We all…kind of have an idea of things."

Percy smiled. "Of course. Harry is rather fond of all of you." His smile faded a little. "Has he spoken to you about what happened during Halloween?"

Katie shook her head. "No, I mean, I saw it later and it really bothered me. Who would do such a thing?"

By now the school had heard that someone had petrified Mrs. Norris, Argus Filch's cat, and wrote terrible graffiti on the walls with lurid red paint the color of blood. Everyone talked about what it meant for the Chamber of Secrets to be open, and who exactly were enemies of the heir. Not to mention who the heir was.

"Who could do such a thing," Angelina said. "They really can't think a student can do any petrifying."

"Why would Harry talk to us about it?" Oliver asked.

"Apparently he was the first one on the scene alongside Ron and Hermione," Percy said. "Professor McGonagall told me."

"Of course he was," Katie sighed. "Can't he stay out of trouble?"

"Apparently not," Alicia said snidely. She shook her head. "We'll keep an eye open though. Did he talk to you about it?"

"Only that he thinks Ginny was very bothered by it. He noticed her there that night among the crowd and he said she looked especially bothered." Percy chewed thoughtfully. "He mentioned that she seemed out of sorts lately. I must admit I have not looked after her as much as I should, with all that is going on much to my shame."

Katie looked down the table and saw Ginny sitting with the twins and Ron. She looked tired but was animated, looking excited for the game. "I'm sure it's just firstie adjustment. It's nice that Harry's looking out for her too though."

"Indeed. They became good friends this summer," Percy said with a kind smile.

"Oh?" Alicia leaned in, eyes sparkling. "Tell me more."

"Don't be weird," Angelina said, rolling her eyes. Then she looked down at Alicia. "Are you seriously using a knife and fork when eating a sandwich?"

"My eggs were over easy so the yolk is runny," Alicia said. She sliced a neat piece off of the rolled sandwich and ate it primly.

"You're eating a sandwich with a knife and fork."

"Would you like me to commentate how you eat from now on? I can do that if you like."

"Save it for the pitch ladies," Oliver said with a grin.

-0-

Harry was glad that he learned how to control his broom better this year. He really needed it.

The second the game started a Bludger had come straight for him. At first, he thought nothing of it. Bludgers were supposed to target players and they usually went for the closest one unless redirected by a Beater's bat. In this case however, the Bludger seemed to only care to fly after him and only him.

After constant dodging for what seemed like many minutes, the twins had caught on and had flown to his rescue. However, despite wailing on the Bludger with all their strength, the enchanted missile would always return without being struck back by the opposing Beaters. It never went for either Fred or George or any other player for that matter.

Oliver finally noticed the oddity and had called time out. When the teams gathered on the ground the Bludger stopped chasing after Harry but, to his mind, it hovered rather menacingly not too far away.

"Well that's suspicious," Oliver said, which Harry found to be a considerable understatement. "Think it's related to your broom trouble last year Harry?"

Harry had learned what caused his broom's attempted mutiny last year and he was thankful to say that he did not think it was related.

"We can't leave him alone," George said. "That thing is trying to brain him, or do something worse. It's been messed with."

"We have to stop the game," Katie said. "Call an inquiry."

"No, wait." The entire team turned to look at Harry. "I can handle it."

"Harry no," Angelina said. "If you get hit at full force, it'll be really bad."

"Then I won't get hit by it. I practiced my evasive flying for over a week. I can dodge it."

"Dodging in practice isn't the same as in game," Fred argued. "Don't try to be a hero."

Harry did not know why he was pushing so hard. Well no, that was a lie, he knew why. He still rankled over how he was unable to catch the Snitch the last game last year. Sure he was beyond exhausted and should not have played to be truthful. He still felt like he let the team down, despite them assuring him that he did not.

If he was being more honest, he wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug smile off Draco's face. That was the most honest, and selfish, answer.

"I can do it," he said calmly to everyone, to Oliver.

Oliver looked torn. A part of him wanted to call the game off to get everything inspected properly. Sure they would take the loss but the point differential was negligible right now. He cared more for the wellbeing of his team.

However, the way Harry was right now, how he looked at him directly making full eye contact, with full confidence, was something simply extraordinary. He was different from the first time he walked onto the pitch last year. This Harry made eye contact, he sounded confident. Oliver wanted to reward him. To treat him like an equal.

Alicia saw Oliver's mind working. She jabbed him hard in the chest. "This isn't Flying Aces Oliver!"

He looked offended. "I know that!"

"Flying Aces? That dumb Quidditch drama?" Angelina asked, looking incredulous.

"Oliver likes it and fancies himself like the Captain from it," Alicia accused.

"I like it, yeah but I can tell the difference between fiction and real life," Oliver said, deeply annoyed and slightly chagrined at the way the twins were snickering.

"Gryffindors!" Hooch called over. "Time's up on time out. Are you playing?"

Harry looked at Oliver pleadingly.

"Be careful Harry and the second I think it's going south I'm calling it to quit," he said.

"Thanks Captain!" Harry said and kicked off, rocketing into the sky.

Hooch blew on her whistle and threw the Quaffle into the air. The rest of the team scattered and rejoined the game but not before Alicia glared at Oliver. "If something happens to him, I'll hurt you," she threatened before she flew off.

"You won't have to," he muttered as he took his spot in front of the hoops, trying to ignore his sinking stomach. "I'll do it myself."

-0-

Harry was starting to feel sick.

He had so far proved he was able to prove his words and so far he had not been struck by the Bludger. However, he had dodged about so much, taking sharp turns and sudden dives, he was starting to get motion sick. The two sandwiches he ate that morning were threatening to come up as the blood in his body whipped from one extremity to the other.

He could hear the Slytherins in the stands mocking him for his flying. It probably did look funny when you were watching someone fly so erratically.

It was less funny being the one doing the flying.

He was starting to regret his decision and his bravado in saying that he could catch the Snitch while dodging about. The Bludger, which seemed to be getting increasingly more desperate and angrier with him, flew especially hard and slammed clean through a wall, disappearing from sight momentarily.

In his brief moment of peace Harry looked about the pitch for the Snitch. His eyes stopped on the grinning jeering Draco.

"Trying out for the ballet, Potter?" The boy's sneer was so wide it should have split his head in half.

Harry did not reply because he saw the Snitch floating right above Draco's head.

Suddenly Harry's sight dissolved into bright light and intense pain shot through him. He had sat still too long and the vindictive Bludger plowed right into his arm, breaking his bones. The watchers in the stands cried out in sympathetic pain and horror.

Draco laughed horribly.

Harry said nothing. Instead, he gritted his teeth and flew straight for Draco. With his broken arm hanging by his side, Harry waited until the last minute before taking his other hand off the broomstick, grabbing the small golden ball tightly.

Draco thought Harry was trying to ram him and he dove, flying away and squealing "Foul!" at the top of his lungs to any that would listen.

His way clear, Harry angled the broom down to earth, trying to control the broom with his legs and his fist. He barely dodged another attack by the persistent Bludger, slipping over the side of his broom. He tried to cling on desperately, feeling gravity pulling him off his broom. The ground was still far away. He could only watch the Bludger rocket towards him.

Oliver threw himself in front of him. He had watched the Bludger hit Harry and he almost called it then and there. Then he saw the Seeker grab the Snitch but obviously could not control his flight very well. He had flown straight for Harry, abandoning the goal hoops and allowing a Slytherin Chaser to score unimpeded.

The Keeper grunted with pain and effort as the Bludger struck him solidly in the chest. He tried to grab it, to keep it still for as long as he could. The enchanted ball fought him and broke from his grip, flying away before coming around for another strike.

It never got the chance. Fred flew in at an angle and struck the Bludger hard towards the ground. It flew and impacted heavily, throwing up a cloud of sand. George had followed it down and leapt off his broom, swinging his bat overhead and pounded the Bludger deeper into the ground. The twins hammered the Bludger repeatedly with their bats until it finally stopped twitching, a deep crack forming across the ball and ending the spell.

Ignoring his aching chest and ribs, Oliver reached out with one hand. He wound it around Harry's unbroken elbow and grabbed the Seeker's broom. "You alright Harry?" he coughed, trying to keep both his broom and the younger boy's broom stable.

Harry clung onto Oliver's arm with own, trying to stay on his broom. His face was pinched with pain but he smiled gamely. "Been better. You?"

Oliver snorted and regretted doing it. "Oh same. What did I say about being careful?"

Harry looked slightly ashamed. "I was fine until I got hit. I got the Snitch though."

Oliver shook his head but could not stop himself from grinning. "What am I going to do with you Harry?"

"Let me off with a lecture?" he asked hopefully.

"I think we're both going to get lectured and then some," Oliver said soberly as the three Chasers flew towards them. Relief mingled with anger on their faces and he let Angelina take a hold of Harry's broom while Katie steadied the boy. They flew down to the ground together.

He followed close behind with Alicia keeping pace with him. She looked more wrathful than angry, with a hint of concern. "You absolute arse," she seethed. "You idiot. You imbecile. You sodding useless shite for brains. You-"

"You know, it's really useful that you usually don't curse," Oliver said mildly as they landed. "It let's me know how angry you are when you do."

"Oh I'll show you angry," Alicia snarled. "You just had to let him play and get hurt. Then you get yourself hurt so I can't hurt you."

"You think I did it on purpose to avoid your payback?" Oliver rolled his eyes and felt his chest twinge. "You know, I almost wish I did." He caught sight of the wave of Gryffindors approaching them, led by a gaudy gold robed wizard. "Huh, I wonder what Lockhart wants."

"Ah, allow me," the wizard said, throwing back locks of blonde hair and smiling a touch too widely. "I can fix these injuries with little effort!"

"Katie!"

Katie looked up at her name being yelled. She had been holding Harry's good arm, letting him lean against her. She saw a highly anxious Hermione. "What?"

"Stop him!" The girl was pointing wildly at Lockhart.

Hermione Granger telling me to stop a Professor? Katie looked at the man with alarm. She saw the wand begin to move and she immediately shrieked, recognizing the wand movement and breaking his concentration, "No!"

Lockhart stopped, looking confused. "I beg your pardon Miss Bell? I was about to assist young Harry here-"

"With the De-Boning Curse?! What is the matter with you?!"

His face colored horribly. "What? No, this isn't the De-Boning Curse, it's more of a fixing charm, admittedly it fixes the problem by removing the problem..."

As soon as Angelina heard Katie protest, she stood in front of Harry, growling threateningly at Lockhart.

"I say, you shouldn't treat your Professor like this-"

"We're taking Harry to Madam Pomfrey," Katie said firmly, already pulling Harry with her and he followed willingly, giving their professor a suspicious look. "He needs to see a real medical professional."

"I may not be a Healer or Medi-Wizard but rest assured I am competent," Lockhart blustered. "I'm sure this young man wouldn't mind me proving my point."

Oliver did mind and he was not the only one.

Alicia stood in front of Oliver, planted resolutely between him and Lockhart. "I think not! You get away from the team, you poor excuse for a butcher! I would not trust you with deboning a flobberworm and they do not even have bones! How dare you even think to interfere when you are so horrifically incompetent, so hilariously moronic, so crippling idiotic!"

The team watched with barely concealed glee at Alicia utterly shredding Lockhart in front of so many people. The man was literally shrinking in front of her. With every word out of her mouth he was being flayed away. Professor McGonagall watched with clear amusement and she made no effort to step in.

"She could teach Mum a thing or two with using words," Fred said with awe.

"Remind me to never actually anger her," George said, more than a little cowed. "I can't believe all the times she yelled at us before was light compared to this complete destruction."

"Isn't she beautiful?" Oliver asked with a smile. Then he went red when the team looked at him. "It beautiful, I mean. This lecturing. I mean. Ow, my chest."

"Let's get you both up to the Infirmary," Katie said with a poorly concealed grin at Oliver.

"I can walk," Harry tried to protest when Angelina scooped him up, careful to let his broken arm rest across his chest.

"I know you can. This is to keep you from doing anything stupid on the way like insisting on playing with a cursed Bludger or putting your thick skull on the line for something that can be made up," Angelina scolded.

"Don't complain too much Harry," Oliver said as the group began to walk to the castle. "I wish someone would carry me like that. I'd throw my arm around their neck and look adoringly up at them and proclaim them to be my hero."

Harry did as suggested and a thoroughly blushing Angelina sped up slightly to escape the snickering of the twins and Katie. Oliver chuckled too for a moment before wincing, clutching his ribs.

"We can't carry you Captain," Fred said with faux sadness.

"You're a bit too big and broad in the shoulder," George continued, equally morose.

"But you can lean on us a bit."

"You can call me My and Fred can be Hero."

Oliver suppressed a laugh and another wince. "Stop trying to make me laugh you two."

"We never try to make anyone laugh."

"People just do for some reason."