A boy sat in a bar. He couldn't have been older than 19, but something
about the look on his face made him seem even older. Sprawled in a chair,
arms resting on the tabletop and head in his hands, he looked a complete
mess. Several empty shot glasses littered the tabletop and in the process
of trying to feel around for one of them, he knocked half onto the floor.
They fell with the tinkling of broken glass.
"Damn," a muffled voice said through a sleeve. The boy tried to get up, but only stumbled over the table and hung onto the back of the chair for support.
"Quidditch, I hate Quidditch! I hate flying, stupid people, stupid woman," the boy said, now resting his head against the back on the chair.
"Sorry sir, we closed twenty minutes ago. My manager wants you to leave." The boy looked up at a waitress, who he couldn't see to well and scowled.
"Fine! I'll leave," he said. Drunk beyond his wits, he mustered up all his soberness to carry him out the bar.
When he got outside, the door was slammed in his face and he wrapped his cloak tighter around him. He started to talk to himself, as he walked in a zigzag line down the street.
"Damn Quidditch, stupid people. Don't know- don't know what talent-"
"Oliver?" The boy spun around to face another boy, standing with two other people. He squinted and then rubbed his eyes because all he could see were three fuzzy outlines.
"Oliver, is that you?" he heard the voice again but did not recognise it. In fact, all it sounded like was a stifled sound.
"I know no Oliver, but only a Wood," he said sarcastically, trying to make his way towards the figure. He stumbled and pairs of arms caught him.
"Oh it's definitely him." He heard another boy's voice, "but he's drunk. Very drunk, extremely drunk. The Wood we know would never get drunk, Quidditch took up too much-"
"Never mention that word in my presence! Quidditch does not exist!" the drunk boy tried to chant, but he kept stumbling further and the arms couldn't hold his weight.
"We can't leave him here like this. I suggest The Leaky Cauldron," came a girl's voice.
"Good idea, common Oliver -or -Wood. Whichever one you are." And so the three people and the older drunk boy hobbled down the pebbled street.
"It's the season to be jolly, falalalala lala lala, deck the something with something of something, falalalala lala lala." The drunken boy started to sing very off key.
"I hope he sobers up better then he can sing." And the last thing the boy remembered after that was being offloaded onto a bed and the sweet song of lullabies- that might have been him- calling him to sleep.
"Mmmmm," came a long moan from the bed where the formerly drunk boy lay.
"Where am I?" he said, throwing the sheet aside, but as soon as he sat up, all the blood rushed to his head and a massive headache began to form.
"I'm- going- to- die," he said each word clearly as he pressed his nails into his forehead. He fell back onto the bed, as the door handle turned and someone walked in, closing it behind them.
"I see you're up," the voice said and he recognised it so well.
"Harry? Harry! Why- where am I?"
"Yes it's me and relax Oliver, you're at The Leaky Cauldron. Ron, Hermione and I found you last night outside one of the pubs in Diagon Alley, in no condition to be going anywhere might I add."
"You did? I don't remember, all I remember was- was-" he paused as Harry sat down, clearly wanting to know more.
"Harry, can this conversation wait until I'm not in so much pain."
"Hangover?"
"The worst," Oliver moaned.
"Here," Harry said, stretching out a hand. "It'll work, trust me." Oliver grabbed hold of a tiny bottle and emptied the contents into his mouth.
"I hope you're not speaking from experience. Later Harry," he mumbled before returning to a deep sleep.
Much later during the day, a distinctly ruffled Oliver Wood rose from his sleep and crept out of his room. He walked down the creaky staircase and into the dining room of The Leaky Cauldron. He could smell food and his stomach made a loud rumble as he exhaled. At one of the tables in the far corner, he caught sight of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Nice to see you too," Ron smiled as Oliver sat next to Hermione.
"Hey everyone, I feel so much better," he said, turning to Harry. "What was that?"
"A little something the twins took from Madame Pomfrey's personal stash. It comes in handy," he grinned.
"I'm so hungry," Oliver said, glancing at Ron's vegetable soup that he hadn't touched.
"Oh go ahead, I was finished anyway," Ron said, a little glad to be rid of the soup.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Hogwarts?" Oliver said in mid slurps of soup.
"You don't have the concept of time do you Oliver, it's summer holidays," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, sorry," he stated.
"So are you going to tell us what happened last night? Why we found you drunk, half aware of what was going on and why you told us never to mention the word Quidditch in your presence again." There was silence after Harry's question. They were all looking at Oliver, who was seemed quite tense. He put his spoon down and breathed deeply.
"I was sacked. They sacked me from the Puddlemere United team."
"I never knew you got moved from reserve team to- the real team!" Ron said, sounding admiring.
"They said I was good, but well, it wasn't meant to be."
"I'm so sorry Oliver," Hermione said her tone etched with sympathy.
"That's not the half of it," he began. "I mess everything up and it's better if I'm by myself."
"That's rubbish Oliver. Look what you did for the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" Ron said in a little outburst.
"Mmm, but I'm talking about people. I can't keep a friendship or relationship for that matter. To tell you the truth, the best thing that ever happened to me- besides you being Seeker Harry- was Angelina. And I couldn't even hold on to that." There was an even longer silence as none of them seemed to know this.
"You- and Angelina, but-"
"I know," he cut Ron off. "She's dating your brother. That reason alone is enough for me to envy Fred. We were good friends and nothing more because I knew she always liked Fred and I'd never- god listen to me preaching about me life to you three."
"We don't mind," Hermione smiled. Oliver returned Hermione's smile and continued.
"Anyway, it's been almost a year since I saw her, she finished at Hogwarts now and I- anyway besides Angel- her, there's never been anyone who holds a special place in my heart. Until I met Faith."
"Who's Faith?" Harry asked.
"She's the Seeker for Puddlemere United team and well, she's not too sore on the eyes. It had been a while since An- anyone and so we got along well. Very, very well in fact, best few weeks I've ever had."
"So, what's wrong with that?" Ron said almost jealously.
"She screwed me over, framed me Weasley, and I got sacked. And now Marcus Flint is the new Keeper."
"Marcus Flint? He doesn't even know how to play Keeper!" Ron shrieked horrified.
"Turns out he does, and he's good too. Also turns out that Faith's surname was Flint. And she'd do anything to help her dear cousin Marcus. Faith Flint, it makes a good alliteration."
"I don't believe it," Hermione gasped.
"God I wish Flint was here." Oliver curled his fists up into balls and punched an imaginary Marcus in the air.
"So, you decided to drink your problems away," Harry said almost pathetically. "You call yourself a Keeper. You were my captain for three years Wood, I know you! Are you going to let some girl come in the way of you and your dream?"
"There's nothing I can do Harry, she got me bad," he said sombrely.
"Rubbish! Wood, listen to me, you were the best Keeper our house has ever seen and the three of us are going to help you get back onto that team if it's the last thing we do."
"Harry's right, for once I agree. Wood, this Faith girl is not going to be the end of your flying," Hermione said. "We will get you back on the team."
"Listen both of you I-"
"Oh will you shut up!" Ron said incredulously. "You belong in the air and both of those Flint's are going to get what's coming to them, so raise your glasses to the downfall of the Flint Family." Ron said as all four of them echoed their secret pact into the depths of The Leaky Cauldron.
*Authors Note* Well, I LOVE Oliver Wood- who doesn't after the movie, he's divine- and I thought, I NEED to write this story… so if you can find time to read and review I would be eternally grateful! :)
"Damn," a muffled voice said through a sleeve. The boy tried to get up, but only stumbled over the table and hung onto the back of the chair for support.
"Quidditch, I hate Quidditch! I hate flying, stupid people, stupid woman," the boy said, now resting his head against the back on the chair.
"Sorry sir, we closed twenty minutes ago. My manager wants you to leave." The boy looked up at a waitress, who he couldn't see to well and scowled.
"Fine! I'll leave," he said. Drunk beyond his wits, he mustered up all his soberness to carry him out the bar.
When he got outside, the door was slammed in his face and he wrapped his cloak tighter around him. He started to talk to himself, as he walked in a zigzag line down the street.
"Damn Quidditch, stupid people. Don't know- don't know what talent-"
"Oliver?" The boy spun around to face another boy, standing with two other people. He squinted and then rubbed his eyes because all he could see were three fuzzy outlines.
"Oliver, is that you?" he heard the voice again but did not recognise it. In fact, all it sounded like was a stifled sound.
"I know no Oliver, but only a Wood," he said sarcastically, trying to make his way towards the figure. He stumbled and pairs of arms caught him.
"Oh it's definitely him." He heard another boy's voice, "but he's drunk. Very drunk, extremely drunk. The Wood we know would never get drunk, Quidditch took up too much-"
"Never mention that word in my presence! Quidditch does not exist!" the drunk boy tried to chant, but he kept stumbling further and the arms couldn't hold his weight.
"We can't leave him here like this. I suggest The Leaky Cauldron," came a girl's voice.
"Good idea, common Oliver -or -Wood. Whichever one you are." And so the three people and the older drunk boy hobbled down the pebbled street.
"It's the season to be jolly, falalalala lala lala, deck the something with something of something, falalalala lala lala." The drunken boy started to sing very off key.
"I hope he sobers up better then he can sing." And the last thing the boy remembered after that was being offloaded onto a bed and the sweet song of lullabies- that might have been him- calling him to sleep.
"Mmmmm," came a long moan from the bed where the formerly drunk boy lay.
"Where am I?" he said, throwing the sheet aside, but as soon as he sat up, all the blood rushed to his head and a massive headache began to form.
"I'm- going- to- die," he said each word clearly as he pressed his nails into his forehead. He fell back onto the bed, as the door handle turned and someone walked in, closing it behind them.
"I see you're up," the voice said and he recognised it so well.
"Harry? Harry! Why- where am I?"
"Yes it's me and relax Oliver, you're at The Leaky Cauldron. Ron, Hermione and I found you last night outside one of the pubs in Diagon Alley, in no condition to be going anywhere might I add."
"You did? I don't remember, all I remember was- was-" he paused as Harry sat down, clearly wanting to know more.
"Harry, can this conversation wait until I'm not in so much pain."
"Hangover?"
"The worst," Oliver moaned.
"Here," Harry said, stretching out a hand. "It'll work, trust me." Oliver grabbed hold of a tiny bottle and emptied the contents into his mouth.
"I hope you're not speaking from experience. Later Harry," he mumbled before returning to a deep sleep.
Much later during the day, a distinctly ruffled Oliver Wood rose from his sleep and crept out of his room. He walked down the creaky staircase and into the dining room of The Leaky Cauldron. He could smell food and his stomach made a loud rumble as he exhaled. At one of the tables in the far corner, he caught sight of Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Nice to see you too," Ron smiled as Oliver sat next to Hermione.
"Hey everyone, I feel so much better," he said, turning to Harry. "What was that?"
"A little something the twins took from Madame Pomfrey's personal stash. It comes in handy," he grinned.
"I'm so hungry," Oliver said, glancing at Ron's vegetable soup that he hadn't touched.
"Oh go ahead, I was finished anyway," Ron said, a little glad to be rid of the soup.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Hogwarts?" Oliver said in mid slurps of soup.
"You don't have the concept of time do you Oliver, it's summer holidays," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, sorry," he stated.
"So are you going to tell us what happened last night? Why we found you drunk, half aware of what was going on and why you told us never to mention the word Quidditch in your presence again." There was silence after Harry's question. They were all looking at Oliver, who was seemed quite tense. He put his spoon down and breathed deeply.
"I was sacked. They sacked me from the Puddlemere United team."
"I never knew you got moved from reserve team to- the real team!" Ron said, sounding admiring.
"They said I was good, but well, it wasn't meant to be."
"I'm so sorry Oliver," Hermione said her tone etched with sympathy.
"That's not the half of it," he began. "I mess everything up and it's better if I'm by myself."
"That's rubbish Oliver. Look what you did for the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" Ron said in a little outburst.
"Mmm, but I'm talking about people. I can't keep a friendship or relationship for that matter. To tell you the truth, the best thing that ever happened to me- besides you being Seeker Harry- was Angelina. And I couldn't even hold on to that." There was an even longer silence as none of them seemed to know this.
"You- and Angelina, but-"
"I know," he cut Ron off. "She's dating your brother. That reason alone is enough for me to envy Fred. We were good friends and nothing more because I knew she always liked Fred and I'd never- god listen to me preaching about me life to you three."
"We don't mind," Hermione smiled. Oliver returned Hermione's smile and continued.
"Anyway, it's been almost a year since I saw her, she finished at Hogwarts now and I- anyway besides Angel- her, there's never been anyone who holds a special place in my heart. Until I met Faith."
"Who's Faith?" Harry asked.
"She's the Seeker for Puddlemere United team and well, she's not too sore on the eyes. It had been a while since An- anyone and so we got along well. Very, very well in fact, best few weeks I've ever had."
"So, what's wrong with that?" Ron said almost jealously.
"She screwed me over, framed me Weasley, and I got sacked. And now Marcus Flint is the new Keeper."
"Marcus Flint? He doesn't even know how to play Keeper!" Ron shrieked horrified.
"Turns out he does, and he's good too. Also turns out that Faith's surname was Flint. And she'd do anything to help her dear cousin Marcus. Faith Flint, it makes a good alliteration."
"I don't believe it," Hermione gasped.
"God I wish Flint was here." Oliver curled his fists up into balls and punched an imaginary Marcus in the air.
"So, you decided to drink your problems away," Harry said almost pathetically. "You call yourself a Keeper. You were my captain for three years Wood, I know you! Are you going to let some girl come in the way of you and your dream?"
"There's nothing I can do Harry, she got me bad," he said sombrely.
"Rubbish! Wood, listen to me, you were the best Keeper our house has ever seen and the three of us are going to help you get back onto that team if it's the last thing we do."
"Harry's right, for once I agree. Wood, this Faith girl is not going to be the end of your flying," Hermione said. "We will get you back on the team."
"Listen both of you I-"
"Oh will you shut up!" Ron said incredulously. "You belong in the air and both of those Flint's are going to get what's coming to them, so raise your glasses to the downfall of the Flint Family." Ron said as all four of them echoed their secret pact into the depths of The Leaky Cauldron.
*Authors Note* Well, I LOVE Oliver Wood- who doesn't after the movie, he's divine- and I thought, I NEED to write this story… so if you can find time to read and review I would be eternally grateful! :)