CHAPTER SIX
Oliver had honestly never been more nervous in his life. He had done motivational talks before, he'd done them in front of hundreds of people, but this was different. This was on home ground, with kids he'd known, kids he'd gone to school with!
He was led out of the Great Hall by Dumbledore and taken to a guest chamber somewhere on the second floor. It was strange how Oliver hadn't actually been back here at Hogwarts for four years yet he still remembered exactly where everything was. As soon as the Hall doors had closed behind them they heard a huge cheer go up in the room. Dumbledore chuckled to himself before gesturing for Oliver to follow him.
"They're very excited to see you, Mr. Wood," he began saying as they swished through the old corridors.
"Yes," replied Oliver. "I got that feeling."
"You're something of an idol to them. They think if someone from Hogwarts can become so huge and famous that anything is possible."
"Yes," replied Oliver.
They walked on in silence for a minute after that, Oliver trying to think of something to say and Dumbledore admiring the grounding of his past pupil.
"So tell me Oliver, do you mind staying for the week?" he asked.
"Not at all," he answered.
"That's good. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do with some of the more senior students."
"Yes I do actually. Tell me if you could, Professor... how is Harry?" Oliver asked.
"Harry Potter... that boy becomes stronger and stronger each day Oliver. He is a boy of such courage and bravery. I still find it a challenge remembering that he is only seventeen some of the time," Dumbledore said grandly. "Ah here we are," he added, opening the door to a large room.
Oliver stepped inside and was nearly blown away by the room, or more accurately, rooms.
It was something resembling 5 star accomodation, a big, comfortable looking bed in one corner, a little dining area fit for a king with velvet chairs, large windows that led out onto what looked like a balcony with vines creeping around the barriers. As Oliver stared on, awestruck, Dumbledore bid his farewell and left him to rest. The door closed softly behind and Oliver wandered around still taking everything in.
The bathroom was off the main bed area and looked like one of the Prefects bathrooms. He knew this because in his sixth year he'd snuck in at midnight and taken a long, enjoyable bath after a rough Quidditch game. He couldn't resist turning on the different taps just to check if streams of rainbow came flowing out and sure enough they did.
It was getting dark outside, the journey to Hogwarts had been longer than he'd remembered and he changed clothes and flopped on top of the beautiful, old bed. It wasn't until he noticed how silent it was when he realised how LONELY he was. Tom was off at Diagon Alley no doubt trying to find suitable gifts for his girlfriend in Ireland and now Oliver was positively alone.
Sitting up slowly, he went and opened up the big window panes and slid out onto the small balcony.
The full moon was above him and sitting on the cold concrete, Oliver thought about his life. How much he loved Quidditch, how much he loved the crowds, the big games, the noise and adrenalin that pumped through his veins each match. Then he thought about how he was sitting there all alone. No one else around. No one who wanted to hear from him or just sit with him in the silence and enjoy the moment.
A black bird which had been perched on the concrete balcony fence, flew off into the distance until Oliver couldn't even see it anymore.
He looked up at the stars and quietly and softly made a wish. "I wish somebody out there loved me," he said before rising to his feet again and heading back indoors for a nice, well deserved rest.
Author's Note: Oh my FUCKING God, I just saw The Winter Guest and whooooo, did Sean just blow me away or what? Sorry about the language but it's in my head now cos Sean's character Tom swore a lot in it. YIKES! Was he good or what? Shit, shit, shit... I'm walking around with a Scottish accent now LoL
Oliver had honestly never been more nervous in his life. He had done motivational talks before, he'd done them in front of hundreds of people, but this was different. This was on home ground, with kids he'd known, kids he'd gone to school with!
He was led out of the Great Hall by Dumbledore and taken to a guest chamber somewhere on the second floor. It was strange how Oliver hadn't actually been back here at Hogwarts for four years yet he still remembered exactly where everything was. As soon as the Hall doors had closed behind them they heard a huge cheer go up in the room. Dumbledore chuckled to himself before gesturing for Oliver to follow him.
"They're very excited to see you, Mr. Wood," he began saying as they swished through the old corridors.
"Yes," replied Oliver. "I got that feeling."
"You're something of an idol to them. They think if someone from Hogwarts can become so huge and famous that anything is possible."
"Yes," replied Oliver.
They walked on in silence for a minute after that, Oliver trying to think of something to say and Dumbledore admiring the grounding of his past pupil.
"So tell me Oliver, do you mind staying for the week?" he asked.
"Not at all," he answered.
"That's good. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do with some of the more senior students."
"Yes I do actually. Tell me if you could, Professor... how is Harry?" Oliver asked.
"Harry Potter... that boy becomes stronger and stronger each day Oliver. He is a boy of such courage and bravery. I still find it a challenge remembering that he is only seventeen some of the time," Dumbledore said grandly. "Ah here we are," he added, opening the door to a large room.
Oliver stepped inside and was nearly blown away by the room, or more accurately, rooms.
It was something resembling 5 star accomodation, a big, comfortable looking bed in one corner, a little dining area fit for a king with velvet chairs, large windows that led out onto what looked like a balcony with vines creeping around the barriers. As Oliver stared on, awestruck, Dumbledore bid his farewell and left him to rest. The door closed softly behind and Oliver wandered around still taking everything in.
The bathroom was off the main bed area and looked like one of the Prefects bathrooms. He knew this because in his sixth year he'd snuck in at midnight and taken a long, enjoyable bath after a rough Quidditch game. He couldn't resist turning on the different taps just to check if streams of rainbow came flowing out and sure enough they did.
It was getting dark outside, the journey to Hogwarts had been longer than he'd remembered and he changed clothes and flopped on top of the beautiful, old bed. It wasn't until he noticed how silent it was when he realised how LONELY he was. Tom was off at Diagon Alley no doubt trying to find suitable gifts for his girlfriend in Ireland and now Oliver was positively alone.
Sitting up slowly, he went and opened up the big window panes and slid out onto the small balcony.
The full moon was above him and sitting on the cold concrete, Oliver thought about his life. How much he loved Quidditch, how much he loved the crowds, the big games, the noise and adrenalin that pumped through his veins each match. Then he thought about how he was sitting there all alone. No one else around. No one who wanted to hear from him or just sit with him in the silence and enjoy the moment.
A black bird which had been perched on the concrete balcony fence, flew off into the distance until Oliver couldn't even see it anymore.
He looked up at the stars and quietly and softly made a wish. "I wish somebody out there loved me," he said before rising to his feet again and heading back indoors for a nice, well deserved rest.
Author's Note: Oh my FUCKING God, I just saw The Winter Guest and whooooo, did Sean just blow me away or what? Sorry about the language but it's in my head now cos Sean's character Tom swore a lot in it. YIKES! Was he good or what? Shit, shit, shit... I'm walking around with a Scottish accent now LoL