Chapter Two - The Cut-off Confession
Oliver sat near the fireplace of the Gryffindor Common Room talking to Percy Weasley. It was already late in the night and Oliver was absolutely frustrated.
"Come on then. Why don't you go and tell her?" Percy asked him. "You've been in love with her since fourth year. You might as well tell her, you silly bloke." Percy shook his head and rubbed his hands together furiously.
"But, Gabriel Christensen...that seventh year Hufflepuff. She's always with him. I'm pretty sure they're together...she won't tell me anything about it though." Oliver buried his face in his hands.
"You're not absolutely sure are you?" Percy asked.
"No...but..."
"Then you haven't lost your chance! You're not thinking of losing your chance to a Hufflepuff are you?"
"It's just that, as her friend right now, she won't even give me the time of day! How in the world is that supposed to help me if I pursue her?" Oliver asked.
"Listen. You've been by her side since the two of you were kids. And it's been killing you to see her with that guy, so you might as well take the bloody chance now before it's too late." Percy advised. "Take me and Penny, for example. I didn't waste any time pursuing her. And we've been together since third year." He smiled.
"That's ruddy different. You weren't best friends before that...and besides, she absolutely adored you since first year anyway, so it wasn't that hard for you now was it?!"
That moment, Professor McGonagall entered the common room, and both Percy and Oliver stood up to acknowledge her presence.
"What is it professor?" Percy asked, he being Head Boy and all. He rubbed his eyes a bit...besides...it was 10 in the evening.
"Good thing you're still awake. I'd like you to call out all of the students.. Bring them to the Great Hall. Quite important, if I may say so myself." She smiled.
"Yes, professor." Percy replied. He first informed the prefects, one of them being Emmie McGonagall, Professor McGonagall's grandaughter. The prefects subsequently informed the students. They all proceeded to the Great Hall in their pyjamas.
The students began piling into the Hall, and Oliver sat up near the front of the table, saving an empty spot for Percy and the other...well, the other spot...he just hoped.
"Ollie!" He heard a voice. It was a horrible nickname that his mother used to call him with. Only one other person knew that. Jennifer.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" He asked.
"Sorry. Couldn't help it. You just look so adorable when you burn crimson like that." She laughed. Soon enough, he felt lightheaded and a bit faint. His cheeks were red from embarassment. She sat down and faced him. "I haven't spoken to you recently Oliver. I'm sorry I haven't been spending as much time with you." She frowned.
"It's okay. I know you've been busy...the whole Head Girl deal..." He trailed off. "Jen, I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time." He took her hand and faced her. "It's just that...I want to say that...what I'm trying to say is...since a long time ago...I..." He was about to say it when Dumbledore clapped his hands to call in everyone's attention.
"Sorry to disturb you this late in the night, but since it's a weekend, I knew you were all still wide awake in your dormitories, so I called all of you here immediately. This couldn't wait for tomorrow morning so here we are. I'd like to announce that this year is Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's One Thousand Five Hundredth Anniversary, and to celebrate, we will have a ball of sorts. The faculty and I decided that it was the best way to keep everyone's spirits up with all that has been going on. Now all students are cordially invited, but not required to attend. It will be two weeks from now on Saturday night, six in the evening. Formal attire only, so be prepared. That is all. Would the Head Boy and Girl please meet us in the back room. Prefects, lead the students to their dormitories. Goodnight everyone." Dumbledore smiled. They all returned to their respective common rooms. He was sure everyone would start asking out everyone else. Oliver cringed. He had this gut feeling Gabriel would ask Jennifer, and he couldn't summon the courage to repeat his statement prior to Dumbledore's announcement.
"Well, Oliver, I've got work to do, so that thing you have to tell me, it'll have to wait 'til morning. Goodnight." She smiled, kissing his cheek gently.
"Goodnight. And, Jen? Always remember that I'm here for you...no matter what." He smiled.
"I know you are." She smiled back.
He got into bed and stared at the ceiling. "Man, I'm done for already." He said laughing to himself. Gabriel was definitely going to ask her. He stared at the dark nothingness and smiled, the only thing within his grasp were his thoughts.
Excuse me Mrs. Busybody, Could you pencil me in when you can? Though we both know that the worst part about it Is I would be free when you wanted me, if you wanted me
I am the man on the side Hoping you'll make up your mind I am the one who will swallow his pride Life as the man on the side...
- Man on the Side - John Mayer -
- Please Review!!! - ÜÜÜÜÜ
Oliver sat near the fireplace of the Gryffindor Common Room talking to Percy Weasley. It was already late in the night and Oliver was absolutely frustrated.
"Come on then. Why don't you go and tell her?" Percy asked him. "You've been in love with her since fourth year. You might as well tell her, you silly bloke." Percy shook his head and rubbed his hands together furiously.
"But, Gabriel Christensen...that seventh year Hufflepuff. She's always with him. I'm pretty sure they're together...she won't tell me anything about it though." Oliver buried his face in his hands.
"You're not absolutely sure are you?" Percy asked.
"No...but..."
"Then you haven't lost your chance! You're not thinking of losing your chance to a Hufflepuff are you?"
"It's just that, as her friend right now, she won't even give me the time of day! How in the world is that supposed to help me if I pursue her?" Oliver asked.
"Listen. You've been by her side since the two of you were kids. And it's been killing you to see her with that guy, so you might as well take the bloody chance now before it's too late." Percy advised. "Take me and Penny, for example. I didn't waste any time pursuing her. And we've been together since third year." He smiled.
"That's ruddy different. You weren't best friends before that...and besides, she absolutely adored you since first year anyway, so it wasn't that hard for you now was it?!"
That moment, Professor McGonagall entered the common room, and both Percy and Oliver stood up to acknowledge her presence.
"What is it professor?" Percy asked, he being Head Boy and all. He rubbed his eyes a bit...besides...it was 10 in the evening.
"Good thing you're still awake. I'd like you to call out all of the students.. Bring them to the Great Hall. Quite important, if I may say so myself." She smiled.
"Yes, professor." Percy replied. He first informed the prefects, one of them being Emmie McGonagall, Professor McGonagall's grandaughter. The prefects subsequently informed the students. They all proceeded to the Great Hall in their pyjamas.
The students began piling into the Hall, and Oliver sat up near the front of the table, saving an empty spot for Percy and the other...well, the other spot...he just hoped.
"Ollie!" He heard a voice. It was a horrible nickname that his mother used to call him with. Only one other person knew that. Jennifer.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?" He asked.
"Sorry. Couldn't help it. You just look so adorable when you burn crimson like that." She laughed. Soon enough, he felt lightheaded and a bit faint. His cheeks were red from embarassment. She sat down and faced him. "I haven't spoken to you recently Oliver. I'm sorry I haven't been spending as much time with you." She frowned.
"It's okay. I know you've been busy...the whole Head Girl deal..." He trailed off. "Jen, I've been wanting to tell you this for a long time." He took her hand and faced her. "It's just that...I want to say that...what I'm trying to say is...since a long time ago...I..." He was about to say it when Dumbledore clapped his hands to call in everyone's attention.
"Sorry to disturb you this late in the night, but since it's a weekend, I knew you were all still wide awake in your dormitories, so I called all of you here immediately. This couldn't wait for tomorrow morning so here we are. I'd like to announce that this year is Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's One Thousand Five Hundredth Anniversary, and to celebrate, we will have a ball of sorts. The faculty and I decided that it was the best way to keep everyone's spirits up with all that has been going on. Now all students are cordially invited, but not required to attend. It will be two weeks from now on Saturday night, six in the evening. Formal attire only, so be prepared. That is all. Would the Head Boy and Girl please meet us in the back room. Prefects, lead the students to their dormitories. Goodnight everyone." Dumbledore smiled. They all returned to their respective common rooms. He was sure everyone would start asking out everyone else. Oliver cringed. He had this gut feeling Gabriel would ask Jennifer, and he couldn't summon the courage to repeat his statement prior to Dumbledore's announcement.
"Well, Oliver, I've got work to do, so that thing you have to tell me, it'll have to wait 'til morning. Goodnight." She smiled, kissing his cheek gently.
"Goodnight. And, Jen? Always remember that I'm here for you...no matter what." He smiled.
"I know you are." She smiled back.
He got into bed and stared at the ceiling. "Man, I'm done for already." He said laughing to himself. Gabriel was definitely going to ask her. He stared at the dark nothingness and smiled, the only thing within his grasp were his thoughts.
Excuse me Mrs. Busybody, Could you pencil me in when you can? Though we both know that the worst part about it Is I would be free when you wanted me, if you wanted me
I am the man on the side Hoping you'll make up your mind I am the one who will swallow his pride Life as the man on the side...
- Man on the Side - John Mayer -
- Please Review!!! - ÜÜÜÜÜ