Forever by Alliance Webb
Chapter Four
It's On
The next few days flew by as they spent every waking hour together. Together they laughed and they were one. They belonged together. They spent hours on end sitting together and talking. They talked about love, about life, about quidditch - anything they could think of. They would sit together hand in hand every spare minute. One day during lunch in the Great Hall Professor Dumbledore made his way from his place at the faculty table and stood near Oliver and Draco. "Mr. Wood, Mr. Malfoy, I'd like you to meet me in my office at the conclusion of lunch," he told them with an expressionless face. They looked at each other, both didn't know what to say.
"Y-yes Headmaster Dumbledore," Oliver stammered. Professor Dumbledore walked away. They looked at one another still holding hands. "Here we go," he sighed. He knew that it wouldn't be long before someone tried to stop them, but the short while they had had together was enough for him. They finished lunch in silence sharing only hopeful glances. They rose, finishing before everyone else and stood hand in hand. The entire hall became deathly silent, not a shuffling foot or a whispering fool broke the silence. They walked to the faculty table and found Professor McGonnagle. "Professor McGonnagle," Oliver said. "We're to report to Professor Dumbledore's office," he said.
In reply she stuck up her nose and let out a pleased "hum." She stood and smiled. "Just this way then, boys, and get your hands off one another," she said coldly as she led them toward the office.
Looking at one another they let their hand fall to their sides.
"I just can't imagine what he has in store for you," she smirked as if it were a game. Finally they reached the office door. Professor McGonnagle tapped on the statue whispering some words. Draco had been here once before but Oliver had never been there. "Don't just stand there, get on!" she scolded. They stepped forward and followed the steps to his office, Professor McGonnagle followed them closely peering at them cruelly behind her round spectacles. They finally opened the door and found Professor Dumbledore sitting behind his desk. "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have-" she tried.
Professor Dumbledore rose his hand to make her stop. "I am well aware, Professor McGonnagle, of the boys' situation," he said. "I'll not be needing your testimony, you may return to your lunch," he said. Professor McGonnagle proceeded to resist but Professor Dumbledore would not have it and she left. "Have seats please," he requested. "I shall be only a moment." They sat down and watched as Professor Dumbledore proceeded to write on a piece of parchment. "Good day, I have hopes in my heart that your day has gone well, and though I hate to bear the bad news, it is my duty to inform you of a recent development at the school. It is not school code to do this, however, I find it very important for you to know of the affairs of your son at out school. Now, rest assured your son is in no danger, of death nor expulsion, he has simply acquired a relationship with a fellow school member. It has been brought to my attention that this significant other that your son is involved with is a student of the same sex as himself. Again, I will note there is no school code that forbids inter-gender relations, however, I find it imperative to inform you of this recent development and allow you to deal with it as you may," he read folding the parchment and placing it in an envelope. "At least this is what I am telling your parents," he sealed the envelope. "I cannot stop you from your feelings, but I find it important that your parents know. He handed the letters to Fawkes who flew off. "That is all, Mr. Malfoy, you may leave," he told them. The two began to stand but he stopped them. "Mr. Malfoy may go," he said. "Mr. Wood, I'd like for you to stay a minute longer, if you would be so kind," he finished. They looked at one another as Oliver sat back down. He sent a reassuring look to Draco, although he was not sure himself what was going to happen. Oliver took a deep breath and looked back to Professor Dumbledor. "I tried to ignore it, I find it to be your business and your business alone, however, not everyone feels the same," he began. "I regret to have to inform you of this, but some of the students here at Hogwarts see to have a problem with yours and Mr. Malfoy's relationship. I have tried to talk sense into them, but they refuse to hear it," he took a long pause, not sure how to find the words to tell him this, he knew it would break his heart. "Mr. Potter, the Weasley twins, and the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team has threatened to resign from the team if this continues," he said. "I cannot stop them from their feelings either, it is not within m powers to do so, my hands are tied," he finished.
Oliver's heart fell. If there was one thing he loved as much as Draco it was quidditch. "That's not fair!" he rose from his seat.
"I am well aware of that however I can do nothing," the professor replied.
"Well then tell them they need not worry about it, I quit! I can't play with people who don't accept me as I am!" he turned and began to leave the room.
"I both respect and admire your decision," he said as Oliver left.
"I shouldn't have had to make it," he said softly as he opened the door and stored down the stairs. Reaching the bottom step he fell to his knees in defeat. Draco had been standing waiting for him and quickly ran to his side. "I hate them, I hate them all," he gritted his teeth.
Draco brushed his hand along Oliver's face. "Want to talk about it?" he asked trying to soothe him.
"I quit the quidditch team," he finally said. They sat there talking for a long while holding hands before Oliver complained about having homework and retired to his dorm.
Draco was furious after hearing what Harry had done, it was true he never liked Harry - but now - he hated him. Clenching his fists he walked to the courtyard and found just who he was looking for sitting on a bench. He stormed over to him and in a fury punched Harry as hard as he could. Blood dripped from Harry's mouth. "You can hurt me, you can hurt my family, but don't you ever - EVER hurt him again, you jerk!" he roared. In response Ron jumped onto Draco's back, but Draco was so enraged that he quickly threw him to the ground. "Stay out of this, you!" Draco yelled.
The two boys on the floor looked to Hermione. "Hermione, do something!" Ron squeaked.
She stood up slowly. "Harry, this is the lowest thing I think you've ever done!" she hissed. "I don't care that you've hurt Draco - a jerk like him deserves it, but Oliver gave you the chance to be on the Gryffindor quidditch team, he was the captain that approved the institution of a first year seeker. I swear, I'm surprised I held out this long. It's low, Harry, real low. As for you Ron, don't get me started, you've already proved yourself to be just as irrational as Draco - that makes you no better than him!" she lifted her head and turned and walked away expecting something like this only from Draco, not her friends.
Draco simply stood there, temporarily stunned. She was right, he had acted like a jerk. He looked at Ron and Harry expressionless. "I-I'm s-sorry," he said then turned to catch up with Hermione. "Hermione - Hermione - right?" he asked, catching up.
"You're right, it's Hermione!" she spat wheeling around to face him. "The one you called a Mudblood - remember! Honestly - I don't see what Oliver sees in you, you stupid jerk," she hissed then turned and continued to walk away.
"Hermione," he followed her. "I"m sorry, I'm sorry about what I said - and about what I did, I was a jerk and you're right," he tried.
She stopped and turned to face him. "It takes someone a little less than a jerk to admit that he's wrong," she said, she wanted to understand him, and she had to admit it, she was impressed by his sudden turn around. "And I really never can hear 'you're right' too many times," she finished.
"Does that mean I'm not a jerk?" he was smiling, happy he had someone who would listen, someone who would at least try to understand.
Hermione could do nothing but smile back as she continued walking - this time not away from him but with him. "A jerk? No. But a loser?" she smiled at him.
a/n: I like reviews
Chapter Four
It's On
The next few days flew by as they spent every waking hour together. Together they laughed and they were one. They belonged together. They spent hours on end sitting together and talking. They talked about love, about life, about quidditch - anything they could think of. They would sit together hand in hand every spare minute. One day during lunch in the Great Hall Professor Dumbledore made his way from his place at the faculty table and stood near Oliver and Draco. "Mr. Wood, Mr. Malfoy, I'd like you to meet me in my office at the conclusion of lunch," he told them with an expressionless face. They looked at each other, both didn't know what to say.
"Y-yes Headmaster Dumbledore," Oliver stammered. Professor Dumbledore walked away. They looked at one another still holding hands. "Here we go," he sighed. He knew that it wouldn't be long before someone tried to stop them, but the short while they had had together was enough for him. They finished lunch in silence sharing only hopeful glances. They rose, finishing before everyone else and stood hand in hand. The entire hall became deathly silent, not a shuffling foot or a whispering fool broke the silence. They walked to the faculty table and found Professor McGonnagle. "Professor McGonnagle," Oliver said. "We're to report to Professor Dumbledore's office," he said.
In reply she stuck up her nose and let out a pleased "hum." She stood and smiled. "Just this way then, boys, and get your hands off one another," she said coldly as she led them toward the office.
Looking at one another they let their hand fall to their sides.
"I just can't imagine what he has in store for you," she smirked as if it were a game. Finally they reached the office door. Professor McGonnagle tapped on the statue whispering some words. Draco had been here once before but Oliver had never been there. "Don't just stand there, get on!" she scolded. They stepped forward and followed the steps to his office, Professor McGonnagle followed them closely peering at them cruelly behind her round spectacles. They finally opened the door and found Professor Dumbledore sitting behind his desk. "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have-" she tried.
Professor Dumbledore rose his hand to make her stop. "I am well aware, Professor McGonnagle, of the boys' situation," he said. "I'll not be needing your testimony, you may return to your lunch," he said. Professor McGonnagle proceeded to resist but Professor Dumbledore would not have it and she left. "Have seats please," he requested. "I shall be only a moment." They sat down and watched as Professor Dumbledore proceeded to write on a piece of parchment. "Good day, I have hopes in my heart that your day has gone well, and though I hate to bear the bad news, it is my duty to inform you of a recent development at the school. It is not school code to do this, however, I find it very important for you to know of the affairs of your son at out school. Now, rest assured your son is in no danger, of death nor expulsion, he has simply acquired a relationship with a fellow school member. It has been brought to my attention that this significant other that your son is involved with is a student of the same sex as himself. Again, I will note there is no school code that forbids inter-gender relations, however, I find it imperative to inform you of this recent development and allow you to deal with it as you may," he read folding the parchment and placing it in an envelope. "At least this is what I am telling your parents," he sealed the envelope. "I cannot stop you from your feelings, but I find it important that your parents know. He handed the letters to Fawkes who flew off. "That is all, Mr. Malfoy, you may leave," he told them. The two began to stand but he stopped them. "Mr. Malfoy may go," he said. "Mr. Wood, I'd like for you to stay a minute longer, if you would be so kind," he finished. They looked at one another as Oliver sat back down. He sent a reassuring look to Draco, although he was not sure himself what was going to happen. Oliver took a deep breath and looked back to Professor Dumbledor. "I tried to ignore it, I find it to be your business and your business alone, however, not everyone feels the same," he began. "I regret to have to inform you of this, but some of the students here at Hogwarts see to have a problem with yours and Mr. Malfoy's relationship. I have tried to talk sense into them, but they refuse to hear it," he took a long pause, not sure how to find the words to tell him this, he knew it would break his heart. "Mr. Potter, the Weasley twins, and the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team has threatened to resign from the team if this continues," he said. "I cannot stop them from their feelings either, it is not within m powers to do so, my hands are tied," he finished.
Oliver's heart fell. If there was one thing he loved as much as Draco it was quidditch. "That's not fair!" he rose from his seat.
"I am well aware of that however I can do nothing," the professor replied.
"Well then tell them they need not worry about it, I quit! I can't play with people who don't accept me as I am!" he turned and began to leave the room.
"I both respect and admire your decision," he said as Oliver left.
"I shouldn't have had to make it," he said softly as he opened the door and stored down the stairs. Reaching the bottom step he fell to his knees in defeat. Draco had been standing waiting for him and quickly ran to his side. "I hate them, I hate them all," he gritted his teeth.
Draco brushed his hand along Oliver's face. "Want to talk about it?" he asked trying to soothe him.
"I quit the quidditch team," he finally said. They sat there talking for a long while holding hands before Oliver complained about having homework and retired to his dorm.
Draco was furious after hearing what Harry had done, it was true he never liked Harry - but now - he hated him. Clenching his fists he walked to the courtyard and found just who he was looking for sitting on a bench. He stormed over to him and in a fury punched Harry as hard as he could. Blood dripped from Harry's mouth. "You can hurt me, you can hurt my family, but don't you ever - EVER hurt him again, you jerk!" he roared. In response Ron jumped onto Draco's back, but Draco was so enraged that he quickly threw him to the ground. "Stay out of this, you!" Draco yelled.
The two boys on the floor looked to Hermione. "Hermione, do something!" Ron squeaked.
She stood up slowly. "Harry, this is the lowest thing I think you've ever done!" she hissed. "I don't care that you've hurt Draco - a jerk like him deserves it, but Oliver gave you the chance to be on the Gryffindor quidditch team, he was the captain that approved the institution of a first year seeker. I swear, I'm surprised I held out this long. It's low, Harry, real low. As for you Ron, don't get me started, you've already proved yourself to be just as irrational as Draco - that makes you no better than him!" she lifted her head and turned and walked away expecting something like this only from Draco, not her friends.
Draco simply stood there, temporarily stunned. She was right, he had acted like a jerk. He looked at Ron and Harry expressionless. "I-I'm s-sorry," he said then turned to catch up with Hermione. "Hermione - Hermione - right?" he asked, catching up.
"You're right, it's Hermione!" she spat wheeling around to face him. "The one you called a Mudblood - remember! Honestly - I don't see what Oliver sees in you, you stupid jerk," she hissed then turned and continued to walk away.
"Hermione," he followed her. "I"m sorry, I'm sorry about what I said - and about what I did, I was a jerk and you're right," he tried.
She stopped and turned to face him. "It takes someone a little less than a jerk to admit that he's wrong," she said, she wanted to understand him, and she had to admit it, she was impressed by his sudden turn around. "And I really never can hear 'you're right' too many times," she finished.
"Does that mean I'm not a jerk?" he was smiling, happy he had someone who would listen, someone who would at least try to understand.
Hermione could do nothing but smile back as she continued walking - this time not away from him but with him. "A jerk? No. But a loser?" she smiled at him.
a/n: I like reviews