Chapter 8- A Scheming Marcus Flint and the Truth is Revealed

"You caught it! Oh man, if you fly like that in the match tomorrow, we'll be sure to win!" Oliver was raving over Harry's spectacular performance, when Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Fred and George flew over.

"Oliver, we have yet another problem," said Katie. "Marcus Flint says that he does not feel like playing the match unless he has a day to recuperate from his 'labors in finding the snitch.' He's a freaking liar and I think you should go to Dumbledore." Oliver's good mood was shot down by this information and he instantly put his pre-match scowl on his face.

"&*%$*&$#!! What is his problem? He really wants to get to me doesn't he? Ok, we're all going to see Dumbledore. Maybe the whole team will have a better affect on him." And with that Oliver marched off the field and started over the grounds with the team following.

Oliver led the team to the gargoyle by Dumbledore's office. Harry was the only one who knew the password, chocolate frog, because he had been there once before that year. They went in and knocked on the door. Dumbledore answered and with a short shocked look, invited them inside.

"So what can I help the Gryffindor Quiddich Team with today?"

"Professor, we did catch the snitch, well, our Harry caught the Snitch," began Wood with a smile at Harry, "but we have another problem. Flint is complaining about being too stressed over the finding of the snitch and he wants the match postponed at least a day or two. He's making it all up, sir!"

"Well Oliver, I think I shall have a talk with old Flint, and I'll call you all back to my office when I've settled things ok? Thanks for coming in and, even though I'm not supposed to take sides, good luck tomorrow." The team walked out and went their separate ways, but Harry and Oliver walked back to the common room for a talk.

"Harry, it's time I tell you what this thing is that I've been keeping from you. Wait until we get back and I'll explain." Wood would have to wait to explain, because just at that moment, he was grabbed from behind and was being drug away. "YOU!!!! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HIM!!" Harry screamed as he pulled out his wand. "Rictusempra!" Harry yelled, and Marcus Flint backed off, doubled over, and ran away laughing. Oliver fell over and was trying to breathe; Marcus had put his hands over Wood's nose and mouth so he couldn't get any air. "Oliver! Are you ok?" Harry bent down and helped him up, and had to levitate him back to the common room. By the time they got back, Oliver was able to talk again.

"Who was it Harry? I couldn't see his face. He didn't feel like a man, but definitely someone stronger than me."

"It was…" Harry didn't know if he should tell Wood the truth. After all, Oliver was probably already planning something to get back at Flint for the snitch, and this would just make it worse, but he couldn't lie to his friend and Quiddich captain…. "It was Flint, Oliver. I don't know why, but it was that crooked-toothed idiot that flung the bludger at you in my first Quiddich match and has hated you your whole life. I detest him as much as you do, but I don't think you should do anything to hurt him. You might get caught after all…and--"

"I don't CARE! That ass could have killed me back there, and I'm not playing his stupid games. All I have to do is hit a bludger at him tomorrow, and aim good. He did the same to me, but I have a feeling his aim was a little low. Now it's time for revenge. And we're going to win this match if my life depends on it." Wood sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, seeming to be thinking hard about something. Harry was worried about him and he wished he would say what was on his mind.

Oliver, on the other hand, was debating in whether to bring up the subject just yet. Harry was his friend, probably one of his best friends, and he had to tell him what was going on, and all of it, because he didn't want to have to lie. He was still thinking about it when Harry piped up again.

"Oliver, what's wrong? You've been so quiet and thoughtful lately- not really yourself. What is going on?"

"Harry, I'm sorry, I'd love to get this off my chest, but I'm not feeling up to it now. Maybe in a few hours when I'm feeling better ok?"

"Yeah ok. I'm going to get something to eat, so I'll talk to you later?"

"Yeah. Later." Wood walked up the stairs to his dorm and Harry went down to the great hall where he met Ron eating with Fred and George. They talked about catching the snitch and about the next day's match and finally the topic came to Malfoy. Fred and George said that Malfoy was just Flint's sidekick and he got stuck with the punishment. Ron said that Malfoy was in on it completely and what he really wanted to do was run off the grounds so he could apparate somewhere with the Quiddich box. Harry thought about this, and then he started thinking about Wood.

"Do you think this has anything to do with Flint hating Oliver's guts? I mean he tried to kidnap him today, if you could call it that, and I think something else is going to happen at the match tomorrow. I just don't know." George agreed with Harry.

"There's something weird going on around here, and I think some of the teachers are in on it too," said George. "Definitely Snape, but I'm not sure about the others. We'll just have to wait and see at the match tomorrow, if there's going to be one." The four of them went back to the common room to talk, and when the rest had gone off to do homework or whatever, Oliver came down the stairs and sat beside him. He was quiet for some time, but then began what Harry felt was the start of "getting it off his chest."

"I was in Quality Quiddich Supplies with my mum, examining the Firebolt model with all the little kids, when I saw a strange man come up from behind me and say, 'You'd like to have that broom eh?' so I answered him.

'Yessir. I live for Quiddich, and this is the newest broom model, as you probably know.'

'Aren't you the Gryffindor Quiddich Captain? Why don't you let me buy it for you?'" Oliver sat for a moment, running the conversation through his head. "I didn't know what to say. I mean, wouldn't you be a little shocked if a total stranger walked up to you and offered to buy you the fastest and best racing broom there is? And it comes at no easy price, believe me! So I was in total shock, and excused myself to go talk to my mum. She recognized the man as Barty Crouch. I didn't know his face and was shocked when she told me who it was, so I accepted the offer with respect. So that's how I got the Firebolt." Wood fell into silence, but Harry knew there had to be more. Meeting the Minister of Magic wouldn't make Oliver this weird for the past week.

"That's really cool that you got a free Firebolt! I wonder why old Barty was feeling so generous?" Harry was trying to stay cheerful.

"Well, this is only the beginning Harry. You see, about three days later, I got a notice in the mail saying that I owed the Minister of Magic the entire sale of the Firebolt, and it even had a deadline! I knew I didn't have that kind of money, and I couldn't have earned it in the time I had, so I ripped up the envelope. I probably shouldn't have done that, and Barty sent my mum an owl just yesterday asking where his money was. She told me that there was nothing to worry about and she would handle it. But this is only one of my worries.

"There's another thing. You know I'll be leaving school this year and I've been called a great Quiddich player, so a few teams have been asking me to sign up. I think I'm going with Puddlemere United, but I'm not quite sure yet. Well anyway, they said that you must have proof that you own your broom, like a receipt or something. Crouch never gave me a receipt. So I have no proof that this awesome broom is mine, even though he said he would buy it for me. So I might not get signed to any team if I can't get proof of ownership on my broom," Wood stood up and started pacing in front of the fire. "I'm really scared, because my family is going to end up paying over 150 galleons on a broom that someone else bought. And like Crouch needs the money! He's Minister of Magic for god's sake! I just don't get why he would do something like this. What did I do to him? I never did anything out of line that has to do with the ministry anyway, so I don't understand what his problem is!

"Oh, and here's something weird. Angelina almost died today, and somehow, Dumbledore knew that I was holding her hand while I was keeping watch. He seemed to think there was some significance to it, which makes me wonder if she likes me or something. I don't know. I'm so lost right now." Oliver sat down and put his head in his hands.