Chapter 2 - I Close My Eyes & The Flashback Starts

It's been a few days since Oliver had seen Natasha or as he called her while they were together 'Natty'. He always meant to apologise for being a bloody idiot but it's too late now she's engaged, pregnant and happy. He was currently at Quidditch practice.

"You okay, Wood?"

He turned to teammate and captain Adam Lincoln. "I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"It's time for the match, suit up."

Oliver nodded and walked to the Quidditch changing room and changed into his keeper uniform.

The match started and he flew in front of the hoops. He saved most of the goals but some of them went past him.

"I'll ask again, you okay Wood?"

"I'm fine," Oliver snapped.

"Just asking."

He decided to go to Percy's. He knew he was working from home today like he always did on Thursdays.

"Hey Oliver," the bespectacled redhead greeted his best friend.

He just stormed in and threw himself on the couch head first.

"Quidditch problem?" Percy asked starting to make some tea knowing this would help calm down his best friend.

He groaned into the nearest pillow.

"Does that mean yes or no?"

"No."

"Girl problem?"

"Yes."

Percy nodded. "What's the problem?"

"Do you remember Milo Butler?" Oliver asked sitting up on the couch as Percy handed him the cup of boiling tea.

"He was the third guy in our dorm, wasn't he? You were a lot closer to him then I was."

"Yeah, he was. Well, he had a younger sister in Hufflepuff named Natasha. She was in George's year."

Percy nodded.

Oliver took a deep breath. "I've never told anyone this. Milo doesn't even know. I started noticing her as more than my roommate's little sister late in her fifth year. I knew I shouldn't have feelings for her since she was almost sixteen and I was so much older than her. When we won the Quidditch Cup at the end the party before going to bed we kissed."

"You did?"

"We did. Though, that's as far is it went until about a week before her seventeenth birthday in July 1995 since I kissed her. We saw each other secretly for all of her seventh year."

"What happened?"

"Honestly, it was my fault. She wanted to tell everyone about our relationship but I was a total chicken for once. I was afraid Milo would kill me for dating and shagging his baby sister. Also, I thought I would've been promoted to the actual Quidditch team instead of just the reserve team. I took out my frustration on her."

"You two shagged?"

"Yeah, we did. Multiple times before we broke up in late September 1996."

Percy nodded. "Well, you were scouted for the team right out of Hogwarts. That's impressive, isn't it?"

"That's exactly what Natty said, but I got mad at her for saying it," Oliver sighed.

"So, where are you going with this?"

"A few days ago I saw her again after a year of her being in the States. Bloody hell, she looked beautiful. I just wanted to snog her senseless."

"You probably would've if her brother wasn't there too."

"Now I could care less about what Milo thinks but she's happily engaged and eight weeks pregnant."

"She's only been gone a year, she's already engaged and pregnant?" Percy asked raising an eyebrow.

Oliver nodded. "Yeah, I met her fiancé and baby daddy. As much as I'm jealous. He seems stable and just what she needs."

"But you still have feelings for her?"

"They never faded but I know I can't act on them now."

Percy laughed. "A Gryffindor practicing restraint what a rare specimen."

Oliver rolled his eyes playfully at his best friend as he finished his tea. "I'm not just saying this because I'm jealous or anything but I was shocked about how much had changed in her life. I think it's a bit out of character for her to rush into an engagement."

Percy nodded.

—

It was now two months since Natasha had went back to the U.K. She was now sixteen weeks pregnant. She was finding out the gender of her child today without Aaron since he was busy and he couldn't get the day off. She sat in the waiting room at the New York branch of St. Mungo's.

"Natasha Butler!"

She pushed herself up and followed the healer with a slight waddle in her step towards the examination room. She sat down on the cold examination table.

"It's nice to see you again, Miss Butler," the healer greeted walking in the room.

"You too."

The healer nodded and instructed Natasha to lay down before she started the examination.

"Does my baby look good?" Natasha asked.

The healer smiled. "Yes, she looks fine."

"I have a daughter?"

"Yes, she should be due in mid October."

Natasha grinned.

"I know you don't have any family here. How did it go telling the father?" the healer asked.

She remembered Natasha being nervous about telling her fiancé.

"He was happy when I first told him but that was in front of my brother back home. But since we've come back to the States that's changed," Natasha sighed running a hand through her hair.

The healer hugged her before she escorted her out.

"Ash?"

She turned to see her co-worker Rachel Samuelson. The other girl was a slightly plump blonde with brown eyes. "Hey Rachel."

"So, what are you having?"

"A baby girl," Natasha grinned again.

Rachel said. "I bet she's going to be a daddy's girl just like her mother."

"I hope so."

Rachel nodded as they began walking out

"You know I've been having these very explicit dreams lately."

The blonde smirked. "Probably just your pregnancy hormones. I guess they're about Aaron."

"Yeah."

"Like they should be."

The two women went their separate ways. The truth was her dreams were not about Aaron like they should be. They were about a certain brunette professional Quidditch Keeper. This one was pretty tame but she's had many others since seeing ow at the Hog's Head that weren't proper to talk about in public.

Flashback Winter 1995

Natasha snuck out of the Hufflepuff common room to have a secret rendezvous with her boyfriend Oliver Wood.

"Butler?"

She turned to see the seventh year Gryffindor Prefect Lee Jordan.

"Where are you off to?"

She blushed. "I'm meeting my boyfriend."

"After curfew?"

"Like you care about curfew, I don't."

"I won't take points off, especially if you tell me who you're dating."

"None of your business, Jordan," she laughed.

"I suppose not but have fun."

Natasha made her way towards the Quidditch Pitch. She saw her boyfriend waiting for her.

"Hey love," he smiled greeting her with a very passionate kiss.

"Hey Ollie."

"You're a little late."

"I got caught by the Gryffindor Prefect."

Oliver nodded. "Isn't the Gryffindor Prefect, Lee?"

"He is, at least it's not as bad as getting caught by Umbridge," she shuddered.

"You were caught by Umbridge, when?"

"The last time we saw each other," she admitted.

Oliver's brown eyes filled with guilt. "I'm so sorry, love."

"It's not your fault, Ollie," she assured her boyfriend.

"What did she make you do?"

Natasha pulled up the sleeve of her robe to reveal scars that read 'I will not be out after curfew.'

"Is there anything can help with the pain?"

"Essence of Dittany but I don't know where to get it," she replied resting her head on his chest.

"I still feel like this is my fault," he sighed running his hands through her light brown hair.

She looked up at him. "It's not your fault, Ollie."

When she arrived home, she began writing her brother to tell him the news.

It was later that night, Natasha was making some dinner at her house when Aaron walked in and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey you," she smiled.

He pulled away from her.

"So, I had my appointment with my healer today."

"And I should care because?"

She glared at him "We'll have a daughter in October."

Aaron nodded. The couple ate some dinner and Aaron left back to his house which was just a couple houses down from hers. She was thankful that they didn't share a bed tonight since she had a very explicit dream about Oliver.

—

It was a few days later, Milo was in his office when an owl dropped off a letter from Natasha.

Dear Milo,

You're going to have a niece in five months. I'm so excited.

Love,

Ash

He grinned widely. He couldn't wait until he had a niece. He would spoil her rotten. He made his way to the cafeteria for lunch.

"What you so happy about, Butler?" the attendant asked.

"I'm going to have a niece in five months," he rattled off happily.

"That's great, congratulations!"

He ordered his food and sat down to eat although he was too excited to eat right now but he'll eat later.

Later that night, he was over his parents.

"I suppose you didn't get a letter from Ash?"

"Actually, we did. She's pretty excited about having a daughter. I'm excited to have a granddaughter. She's going to be spoiled rotten."

"And hopefully a daddy's girl."

Silas frowned suddenly. "I know I said I trusted her judgement but there's something about him that just rubs me the wrong way."

"I know what you mean dad. I trust Ash's judgement too but she's still only almost twenty-one. I made some stupid decisions at that age."

"Everyone makes stupid decisions at that age."

"Even she said it didn't feel right to say 'yes' to him when he popped the question unexpectedly."

Silas nodded. "I'm a bit miffed that he didn't ask for my blessing. I know Ash would want her future fiancé to ask for my blessing."

"I still don't understand why she never told Oliver how she felt about him. I wouldn't mind him being my future brother-in-law and father of my niece."

Silas nodded.

—

The next morning Milo woke up with a slight headache from his drinking session with his dad. He enjoyed drinking every now and then, especially with his dad. He had a limit. He got out of bed and made his way down the stairs.

"Morning honey," his mum said.

He kissed his mum's cheek.

"Morning, mum."

As much he was caught between the disagreements between Ash and their mum. He was a mama's boy just as much as Ash was a daddy's girl. He would side with whoever he thought was right and the other wouldn't hold a grudge.

"Have a good time with your dad last night?"

"Yes."

"You talked a lot about your sister's predicament?"

"We did. She wrote me and said she's expecting a baby girl."

"I have a granddaughter?"

"You do."

"I just wish Aaron was a better guy for her."

"You have a bad feeling about him too?"

"I do, not only that but if they end up getting married. I doubt she'd ever come back and we'd never meet our grandchildren/nieces or nephews."

Milo thought for a second. "I never thought about that mum. But if I know Ash as well as I think I do she's extremely loyal to our family. Despite her leaving us for a year but I think it's understandable seeing what she had been through at school."

"I suppose so, dear."

"It doesn't help that you're always calling her by her older sister's name."

His mum sighed.

"I know but I still miss Briar so much. She's been gone for almost ten years."

"I know you do but Ash is not her."

"She isn't."

Milo nodded.

"Well, I should get to work. I'm already extra late."

"Have a good day, dear."

"I will."

The only Butler son went off to work.