Oliver watched enviously as his former team practiced. He particularly paid
close attention to Marcus, who took delight in showing off. But even in the
air, he didn't have an ounce of the grace that Oliver possessed when he was
up there. Oliver felt his face become hot and flushed as he curled his
fists up into balls.
"I hate this," he managed to choke out, as he watched from outside the pitch gates. Harry had gone to find Ron and Hermione and he thought it would be better if Oliver had not come with him. Oliver looked up in the air again, and watched the little figures of blood red zooming around. He longed to be up there, he needed to be up there…
"Oliver!" his thoughts were shattered by Harry's voice and he stared at him.
"Yes."
"Ron and Hermione found out something very interesting, you have to come and take a look though." Harry walked off in the direction of the pitch and Oliver swallowed hard.
"It's okay, trust me," Harry smiled. Oliver believed him and began to follow rather reluctantly. Much to Oliver's relief, they took off in the opposite direction of the practice and headed for the changing rooms.
"Where are we-"
"Shhh, you'll find out." Harry led him into the disserted offices and down a corridor where they took a right turn.
"Harry this is restricted, team members aren't-"
"You're not in the team remember," Harry winked at Oliver as he shook his head.
Harry stopped when they came to a door and turned the handle carefully. Ron and Hermione were already inside sitting on the floor and going through heaps of parchment.
"How did you find this place?" Oliver asked amazed.
"I think she's been here in her previous life," Ron pointed at Hermione who gave him a sarcastic look.
"I can read signs Ron, which is more than I can say for you." He smiled sickly at her and got up to face Oliver.
"Seems like your Faith has been rather busy," he said, thrusting a file into Oliver's hands. Oliver looked sceptically at him and opened the file cautiously.
"She's appeared before the Ministry of Magic in several occasions, all on different charges. Harassing Muggles, theft-"
"Indecent public conduct," Hermione broke in and Oliver grinned.
"Yep, that's Faith all right," he sighed as he closed her file.
"I wonder why she never got a letter from Hogwarts though?" Hermione questioned and Ron rolled his eyes.
"Does it make a difference what school she went to?" Ron sighed
"Probably would've been in Slytherin," Harry whispered and Oliver, who caught his remark, smiled briefly.
"Even if she did receive some sort of education, it doesn't excuse the fact she's completely barmy!" Ron exclaimed.
"Shhh!" Hermione said suddenly.
"For god's sake, I'm not that lou-" but Oliver silenced Ron by putting a hand over his mouth.
"Behind the door," he whispered and all four of them squashed behind it just as the handle was turned and the door was pried open.
"Leave it Hoskin, we can always get her file later," a deep man's voice said from outside the door. The door was suddenly inched forward a little and gave the foursome some room to breathe.
"But Fuller, I have a funny feeling about this girl. What if everything Oliver told us was right?" A second man's voice said and Harry felt Oliver's chest tense against his back.
"Hoskin, I'm telling you now, don't mess you things that'll get you burnt, or worse," the first man said sternly.
"I just want to help Oliver, we all do. I know you won't admit it, but you want him back just as much as we all do. Do you really believe he fixed those matches?" There was a little pause as the man with the deeper voice coughed.
"I thought not. I also think it's a bit strange that Oliver gets dismissed and his replacement is a relation of Faith's. Now come on Fuller, you-"
"Even if I do want the dear boy back, I can't fix up this mess he's gotten himself into. Now let's go Hoskin, before someone realises we're here." There was a shuffle of feet and when the door was closed the foursome relaxed.
Oliver slid his back down the wall and sat on the floor with is head in his hands. Hermione started putting everything back in its place, while Harry and Ron stared at the bewildered Oliver.
"You're going to explain that to us, right?" Ron said simply. Oliver looked up at him swallowed hard.
"The two men were my former team-mates. Ward Hoskin and Jeffery Fuller. Jeffery's the captain and Ward's his fellow beater. I tried to tell Ward everything, but Faith made sure I didn't get that far." Ron looked at Harry and they both decided silently not to ask what she had done to him that time.
"I can't believe they want me back," he heaved, burring his face in his hands.
"Why wouldn't they? I hope now you believe you seriously belong on that team!" Hermione stated as she finished packing away the files.
"I also seriously think we should get out here," Ron added as Oliver got up from the floor. The four of them made their way quickly out of the office buildings and past the changing rooms. They were almost at the entrance when Harry pulled Oliver aside.
"Maybe we could talk to Ward, he sounded as if he's had enough of all these Flints. He could help us," Harry said quickly, but he realised Oliver wasn't looking at him, but rather past him. The look on his face had changed from hope to complete repulsion and he whispered to Harry.
"Get out of here, she can't see you. Go!" Without saying a word, Harry obeyed Oliver and ran. He didn't stop until he had caught up with Ron and Hermione outside the gates and pulled them back to survey the scene. The three of them crouched behind neatly trimmed bushes, while watching a rather attractive girl make her way over to Oliver.
"Back to beg for your position?" she snapped as she stopped in front of Oliver. Her expression was as hard as granite and she narrowed her eyes.
"Back to steal my soul?" All of a sudden, the expression on her face changed and she broke out into a full-on smile, her eyes were so bright, they looked yellow and Oliver shivered as she brushed her hand up against his cheek.
"Steal your soul?" she repeated, trailing the back of her hand along his jawbone. Oliver closed his eyes to concentrate on something else and she smiled sweetly.
"No baby," she whispered and Oliver opened his eyes. "I've already done that." Her smiled changed from sweet to satanistic and she forcibly scrapped a nail along his cheek. Oliver felt the skin sting and he put a hand up to his face. When he pulled his fingers away they were dabbed with blood and Faith sneered.
"How's the drinking coming?"
"Good actually, been sober for more than two days," he said sarcastically and she clapped her hands in a mocking way.
"And the dreams?" Oliver stared at her and she pouted her lips in forgiveness.
"You did that?" he said disgusted.
"Your memories of Angelina are to pure and unadulterated for my liking. You never opened up to me fully because of that damn girl."
"Don't ever talk about her like that," Oliver spat and Faith smirked.
"There's your second weakness. That girl will be your undoing, I promise you. Marcus and I had a bet going that you'd find the first bar and drink yourself away because of her, oh and Quidditch of course."
"Why me?" Oliver said suddenly. Harry, who was listening, thought he sounded as if he was pleading with her.
"You were such a challenge, the Quidditch player no one could touch. You would've been a legend, such a pity. Too bad life doesn't work out the way we want it to. Think about it, you get sacked from the only thing you know how to do, while the girl you love plays lapdog for some redhead."
In a flash Oliver had grabbed Faith's arm and looked as if he was going to twist it, but on second thought, let go.
"That's right, you can't touch me here." She said, looking around. "I suggest you leave Wood, before I'm forced to call Fuller." Oliver smiled and put his palms up in a sign that he was backing away. He took a few steps back and then disappeared out the gates. When he spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione he stared blankly at them and swallowed hard.
"I need to get out of here," he said desperately and Ron raised his eyebrows.
"We can go to my place. Its only Ginny at home, everyone else is away for the weekend." Oliver stared at him and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," Ron smiled and Hermione seemed as if she was about to object.
"How are we going to get there?" Harry asked suddenly and Hermione closed her mouth in a huff.
"I'll apparate there, I know the way Ron."
"Okay, we'll find a fireplace and meet you there as soon as possible," Ron said and Oliver smiled. As Ron and Hermione turned to walk away, Harry pulled Oliver aside and voiced his concern.
"Do you really want to go to the Burrow?" Harry asked and Oliver knew Harry could read his mind and knew exactly what was running threw it.
"I want to, I need to Harry."
"What if she's there?"
"Then I'll do what I should've done long ago," Harry wanted to say something, but thought better of it and he forced a smile.
"Just so long as you know what you're doing," Harry said before turning up and walking away. Oliver watched him, Ron and Hermione disappear down the street and when they were no longer in sight, he turned his gaze back towards the pitch and grinded his teeth at the thought of Marcus guarding his poles.
"You will live to regret the day you ever messed with me Faith," he said under his breath. A tiny crack followed and all of a sudden the streets were quiet and all that could be heard was the low whistle of the wind.
*Author's Note* Wow, after a long time of writer's block… I'm back! Hehe :) Well I just hope you enjoyed it. Everything belongs to the brilliant JK and I am a humble follower. Please find time to read and review, every author likes to know that his or her work is being appreciated. Ciao for now…
"I hate this," he managed to choke out, as he watched from outside the pitch gates. Harry had gone to find Ron and Hermione and he thought it would be better if Oliver had not come with him. Oliver looked up in the air again, and watched the little figures of blood red zooming around. He longed to be up there, he needed to be up there…
"Oliver!" his thoughts were shattered by Harry's voice and he stared at him.
"Yes."
"Ron and Hermione found out something very interesting, you have to come and take a look though." Harry walked off in the direction of the pitch and Oliver swallowed hard.
"It's okay, trust me," Harry smiled. Oliver believed him and began to follow rather reluctantly. Much to Oliver's relief, they took off in the opposite direction of the practice and headed for the changing rooms.
"Where are we-"
"Shhh, you'll find out." Harry led him into the disserted offices and down a corridor where they took a right turn.
"Harry this is restricted, team members aren't-"
"You're not in the team remember," Harry winked at Oliver as he shook his head.
Harry stopped when they came to a door and turned the handle carefully. Ron and Hermione were already inside sitting on the floor and going through heaps of parchment.
"How did you find this place?" Oliver asked amazed.
"I think she's been here in her previous life," Ron pointed at Hermione who gave him a sarcastic look.
"I can read signs Ron, which is more than I can say for you." He smiled sickly at her and got up to face Oliver.
"Seems like your Faith has been rather busy," he said, thrusting a file into Oliver's hands. Oliver looked sceptically at him and opened the file cautiously.
"She's appeared before the Ministry of Magic in several occasions, all on different charges. Harassing Muggles, theft-"
"Indecent public conduct," Hermione broke in and Oliver grinned.
"Yep, that's Faith all right," he sighed as he closed her file.
"I wonder why she never got a letter from Hogwarts though?" Hermione questioned and Ron rolled his eyes.
"Does it make a difference what school she went to?" Ron sighed
"Probably would've been in Slytherin," Harry whispered and Oliver, who caught his remark, smiled briefly.
"Even if she did receive some sort of education, it doesn't excuse the fact she's completely barmy!" Ron exclaimed.
"Shhh!" Hermione said suddenly.
"For god's sake, I'm not that lou-" but Oliver silenced Ron by putting a hand over his mouth.
"Behind the door," he whispered and all four of them squashed behind it just as the handle was turned and the door was pried open.
"Leave it Hoskin, we can always get her file later," a deep man's voice said from outside the door. The door was suddenly inched forward a little and gave the foursome some room to breathe.
"But Fuller, I have a funny feeling about this girl. What if everything Oliver told us was right?" A second man's voice said and Harry felt Oliver's chest tense against his back.
"Hoskin, I'm telling you now, don't mess you things that'll get you burnt, or worse," the first man said sternly.
"I just want to help Oliver, we all do. I know you won't admit it, but you want him back just as much as we all do. Do you really believe he fixed those matches?" There was a little pause as the man with the deeper voice coughed.
"I thought not. I also think it's a bit strange that Oliver gets dismissed and his replacement is a relation of Faith's. Now come on Fuller, you-"
"Even if I do want the dear boy back, I can't fix up this mess he's gotten himself into. Now let's go Hoskin, before someone realises we're here." There was a shuffle of feet and when the door was closed the foursome relaxed.
Oliver slid his back down the wall and sat on the floor with is head in his hands. Hermione started putting everything back in its place, while Harry and Ron stared at the bewildered Oliver.
"You're going to explain that to us, right?" Ron said simply. Oliver looked up at him swallowed hard.
"The two men were my former team-mates. Ward Hoskin and Jeffery Fuller. Jeffery's the captain and Ward's his fellow beater. I tried to tell Ward everything, but Faith made sure I didn't get that far." Ron looked at Harry and they both decided silently not to ask what she had done to him that time.
"I can't believe they want me back," he heaved, burring his face in his hands.
"Why wouldn't they? I hope now you believe you seriously belong on that team!" Hermione stated as she finished packing away the files.
"I also seriously think we should get out here," Ron added as Oliver got up from the floor. The four of them made their way quickly out of the office buildings and past the changing rooms. They were almost at the entrance when Harry pulled Oliver aside.
"Maybe we could talk to Ward, he sounded as if he's had enough of all these Flints. He could help us," Harry said quickly, but he realised Oliver wasn't looking at him, but rather past him. The look on his face had changed from hope to complete repulsion and he whispered to Harry.
"Get out of here, she can't see you. Go!" Without saying a word, Harry obeyed Oliver and ran. He didn't stop until he had caught up with Ron and Hermione outside the gates and pulled them back to survey the scene. The three of them crouched behind neatly trimmed bushes, while watching a rather attractive girl make her way over to Oliver.
"Back to beg for your position?" she snapped as she stopped in front of Oliver. Her expression was as hard as granite and she narrowed her eyes.
"Back to steal my soul?" All of a sudden, the expression on her face changed and she broke out into a full-on smile, her eyes were so bright, they looked yellow and Oliver shivered as she brushed her hand up against his cheek.
"Steal your soul?" she repeated, trailing the back of her hand along his jawbone. Oliver closed his eyes to concentrate on something else and she smiled sweetly.
"No baby," she whispered and Oliver opened his eyes. "I've already done that." Her smiled changed from sweet to satanistic and she forcibly scrapped a nail along his cheek. Oliver felt the skin sting and he put a hand up to his face. When he pulled his fingers away they were dabbed with blood and Faith sneered.
"How's the drinking coming?"
"Good actually, been sober for more than two days," he said sarcastically and she clapped her hands in a mocking way.
"And the dreams?" Oliver stared at her and she pouted her lips in forgiveness.
"You did that?" he said disgusted.
"Your memories of Angelina are to pure and unadulterated for my liking. You never opened up to me fully because of that damn girl."
"Don't ever talk about her like that," Oliver spat and Faith smirked.
"There's your second weakness. That girl will be your undoing, I promise you. Marcus and I had a bet going that you'd find the first bar and drink yourself away because of her, oh and Quidditch of course."
"Why me?" Oliver said suddenly. Harry, who was listening, thought he sounded as if he was pleading with her.
"You were such a challenge, the Quidditch player no one could touch. You would've been a legend, such a pity. Too bad life doesn't work out the way we want it to. Think about it, you get sacked from the only thing you know how to do, while the girl you love plays lapdog for some redhead."
In a flash Oliver had grabbed Faith's arm and looked as if he was going to twist it, but on second thought, let go.
"That's right, you can't touch me here." She said, looking around. "I suggest you leave Wood, before I'm forced to call Fuller." Oliver smiled and put his palms up in a sign that he was backing away. He took a few steps back and then disappeared out the gates. When he spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione he stared blankly at them and swallowed hard.
"I need to get out of here," he said desperately and Ron raised his eyebrows.
"We can go to my place. Its only Ginny at home, everyone else is away for the weekend." Oliver stared at him and narrowed his eyes.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," Ron smiled and Hermione seemed as if she was about to object.
"How are we going to get there?" Harry asked suddenly and Hermione closed her mouth in a huff.
"I'll apparate there, I know the way Ron."
"Okay, we'll find a fireplace and meet you there as soon as possible," Ron said and Oliver smiled. As Ron and Hermione turned to walk away, Harry pulled Oliver aside and voiced his concern.
"Do you really want to go to the Burrow?" Harry asked and Oliver knew Harry could read his mind and knew exactly what was running threw it.
"I want to, I need to Harry."
"What if she's there?"
"Then I'll do what I should've done long ago," Harry wanted to say something, but thought better of it and he forced a smile.
"Just so long as you know what you're doing," Harry said before turning up and walking away. Oliver watched him, Ron and Hermione disappear down the street and when they were no longer in sight, he turned his gaze back towards the pitch and grinded his teeth at the thought of Marcus guarding his poles.
"You will live to regret the day you ever messed with me Faith," he said under his breath. A tiny crack followed and all of a sudden the streets were quiet and all that could be heard was the low whistle of the wind.
*Author's Note* Wow, after a long time of writer's block… I'm back! Hehe :) Well I just hope you enjoyed it. Everything belongs to the brilliant JK and I am a humble follower. Please find time to read and review, every author likes to know that his or her work is being appreciated. Ciao for now…