A/N: Woo! Just had prom. It was great. So I've been a little busy this week. But in between stuff, I've been writing! Chapter 8's a bit longer than usual so, I hope everyone enjoys:-).
A/N2: To Charlie, beta extraordinaire, Thank you.
Thanks to all my reviewers.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - CHAPTER 8 - - - -
Tomorrow was an interesting day, indeed. What made it so interesting was the disappearing act Oliver Wood pulled. Before Angelina had even risen, Oliver had said his goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and headed back to his flat in Puddlemere. He had said he'd be back in London again as soon as his family returned from vacation.
Although Ron and Harry expressed feelings of disappointment to see him leave, Angelina was secretly relieved. It wasn't as if she could go on talking to him and pretend nothing happened (which had been her plan had he not left). With him gone, she could go back to focusing on her life. He had been a pleasant distraction, but she couldn't spend much time dwelling on him. Plus, she was still mad at him for what he had implied about that night at his house. And for tricking her into kissing him (she blamed him whole heartedly). Yes, it was best to forget about, one, Oliver Wood.
Well that attitude carried Angelina straight through for two weeks. Her brother had come back home and both him and Angelina visited their parents regularly. Angelina had started training again, much harder than ever, and had even bought a portable training room—only because she lived so far away from a real center, of course. But it was at the end of those two weeks that her resolve began to crumble.
Angelina walked towards room 301 with her brother, Eric, lagging behind. In her hand she held a letter she had refused to open. Eric had tried to open it for her earlier, but she didn't want him to open it. She had a mission to see one person. She stepped into the brilliantly lit hospital room and marched right over to Marianne Everson-Johnson.
"Its from the Cannons."
Marianne gave her daughter one calculated look and then took the letter that was held out to her. She unsealed the letter and held it close to her face, squinting at the words and revealing no emotion. She looked up to see her two children waiting expectantly to hear the news, as they used to do when they were young and she would read them answered letters from Father Christmas.
She rolled up the scroll, which actually contained several letters. With brown eyes almost identical to Angelina's, she winked and gave a small nod.
"You made the final cut. You have Final tryouts on August 13th."
Angelina let out a squeal and ran to hug her mother. She then went to the bed next to her mothers and gently hugged her smiling father. Finally she went over to jump on her brother, the first person to place a broom in her hand and tell her she'd be a star.
"Ew, my little sister is going professional on us," he said to their parents over her head. "And I always thought she was too geeky to become a celebrity."
Angelina punched his arm. "That's what you thought."
Granted she wasn't technically on the reserve team yet. But making final cut was a big deal. She had been dreading the results of her preliminary tryouts for weeks. The tryouts had been right after leaving Hogwarts and Angelina had wished for more time. And now that she was training harder than ever, she felt she could do finals right now. She could conquer the world!
"Let me see what else it says," she asked excitedly, taking back the papers.
Her eyes scanned the Chudley Cannon's logo at the top of the letter and she smiled to herself. No team logo ever looked more beautiful.
Dear Ms. Angelina Johnson,
We are pleased to inform you that your preliminary results have been processed. Upon special review of your practical score, coupled with the submitted application and credentials, we are excited to extend an invitation to come back for FinalTryouts on Friday, the 13th of August. Specific instructions about tryouts are included in this packet, along with a detailed evaluation of your practical performance at the Preliminary Tryouts.
We hope that this news finds you well, and willing to except the challenges that the Chudley Cannons Professional Quidditch Team ensures. It is possible, of course, to forgo this opportunity (bloody unlikely, Angelina thought with a smile). If you wish to decline, please return the enclosed letter of refusal with all training material and the free t-shirt we sent out.
Wishing you the best of luck,
Ragmar Dorkins
Manager and Head Trainer
Angelina flipped through the other pages. Yes! It was all right there. It seemed like her summer was finally looking up. So engrossed was she, it took her a second to realize that the conversation had moved on passed her and on to none other than Oliver Wood.
"Yes and he came to see us. Plays on Puddlemere now."
"So I hear. Never did get to play with him on the Griffindor team back in my day. He made the team the year I left."
Angelina hid behind the papers a little longer, pretending to be deaf to the conversation.
"He isn't still in London is he, Angie? Maybe he can stop by for dinner. He was so nice to come and see us."
Her brother pulled back the papers to reveal Angelina's flustered face. Angelina cleared her expression immediately.
"Wait, didn't you two…you know, have a thing going or something back in school?" He gave her a knowing smile and Angelina, in her best actress performance, rolled her eyes and scoffed.
"He wishes."
"Oh, I don't know, Ange, I remember several owls about that. I think I might've brought them too. It's packed in my trunk of course, but it shouldn't be too hard to dig up—"
She jumped on him, cutting off his words effectively. She supposed it wasn't good to be wrestling your brother in a hospital room as your parents tried a halfhearted attempt to stop it.
"Really now, Eric, Angie. You'd think you two were five years old."
"Even if I were five, I could still beat this guy," Angelina breathed out, her arms wrapped around her brother's head in a headlock. Angelina suspected that he was letting her win, but she didn't mind. She had missed him dearly, and plus, this was a long time coming.
Eventually, the romping died down and all too soon they were wishing their father goodbye. He was feeling extremely tired that day, and though he smiled and laughed along with his daughter, the strain was starting to show. Marianne was going home, as well, after spending two extra weeks in the hospital. She was well on her way to full recovery but had wanted to stay at the hospital with her husband. The mediwitches had been on the verge of kicking her out before she had decided that she wanted to spend time with her oldest child before he left her again.
That evening Angelina enjoyed one of her favorite meals with her brother and mother in celebration of the letter. After everyone had eaten and said their goodnights, Angelina made her way up to her room, a bowl of double mint chocolate ice cream in her hands and a smile on her face. She knew she'd have to work off all those extra calories, but she felt she deserved some sweets.
She was still so excited that she couldn't sleep. She sat at her desk and took out a piece of parchment and a sugar quill. Sucking on the end of it, she wondered whom to write to first. Fred's freckled face swam in front of her eyes and she cringed guiltily. What had happened to them? After that faithful night almost two weeks ago, she had pulled her own disappearing act and left without saying goodbye to the twins.
Well they were still mad at you, especially Fred.
True. That is why she hadn't wanted to face them in the morning.
And, of course, the fact that you were slobbering all over Oliver the night before.
Angelina ignored that part.
So she hadn't said goodbye to Fred that last time she was at the Weasley house. What had stopped her from seeing him after that?
She put down the quill and leaned down on her hands.
It was time to face the facts. She just didn't feel the same for him as she used to.
Aw, that's not fair. You can't honestly make that decision when your mind is on Oliver Wood all the time.
"It is not!" she whispered out loud.
She had barely thought of the Qudditch player who had wandered back into her life for those couple of days and had left just as easily.
Oh you haven't, you say? Well I beg to differ. After all, I'm up here dealing with thoughts of him all day.
"I'm not arguing with you anymore," she said to herself, quickly silencing that part of her conscience.
All too soon, another side popped up.
Well, speaking of Oliver, it teased, why not send him an owl? He'll be more than happy to help you train for Finals.
Angelina wondered if she really wanted to go back to that situation. What if he didn't want to hear from her, anyway?
In the end, she wrote a letter to Harry Potter telling him of the Cannons letter, and then ate her ice cream as she watched the stars. A few stars sparkled brightly against the night sky and without knowing, her heart chose a star and made a wish while her mind chose another and made its own wish. Each wish was pure and hopeful and the heavens were at a loss for what to do.
- - - - - - -
"Oh Oliver, thank you so, so much. And you're sure you're ok with Angie for the night?"
Oliver nodded. Although his mind had reeled when he heard 'Angie', his face remained composed.
"Of course he will. Stop worrying Marce. Our Angela can probably take care of herself."
Anderson winked at Oliver as he bent down to kiss his baby girl. Marcy hovered by the door, obviously unwilling to part with her first and only child.
"Oh go on guys. You deserve a break. Me and Ange will stay up all night telling stories and…doing each other's hair." He looked down at the gurgling baby and gently patted the fuzz of red hair that covered most of her head.
Marcy laughed at him and went over to kiss her baby again.
"Well everything is in her baby trunk and you owl us if anything, anything is wrong. We'll come right back home."
"Yes, yes, we will, honey." Anderson rolled his eyes and led his reluctant wife out the door. "Thanks again for coming on such short notice, Oliver. We'll be back tomorrow."
And with that he exited the nursery and a double crack was heard as they disapperated.
Oliver looked around the room with its pretty pinks and fluffy pillows.
"Well it's just you and me, Angie."
He looked down into the cradle to see Angela give one big yawn and blink her pretty four-month-old eyes.
"Oh no. You can't go to sleep already! You have to do my hair."
He had just picked up the baby, thinking he could charm her into staying awake, when an owl flew through the window. He went to take off the scroll but Angela grabbed a handful of his hair.
"Oh, now, you want to do hair."
He put her back in the cradle and then went to take the scroll from the owl's leg. The owl looked familiar but he couldn't quite place it. Unfolding the scroll, Oliver looked down to see who had signed it. He muttered a sound of surprise.
Angelina was writing him.
He hurriedly read through the letter. Letting out a whoop, he went to get a quill to respond. Before he knew it, he had scribbled.
Angie,
Congrats! I always knew you'd make it. If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask. I'm babysitting at a friend's house. Come over, we can celebrate and I can tell you everything you need to know about finals. The address is on the front of the scroll.
OliverAnd then the Owl was flying out the window again.
Oliver was just a little slow on thinking all of it over. What had he just done? He hadn't even spoken to her since…since that night at the Weasley house. And that was weeks ago. He hadn't even said goodbye.
Coward.
He frowned down at the now sleeping baby. He was a coward. She probably wouldn't even come.
----
"Oh Angie, you know you're the only girl for meeee."
Angela let out a squeal and tried to grab at his fingers. Oliver continued singing.
"It's your love that can finally set me freeee." He twirled once, for effect, and then went back to tickling Angela's stomach. She gurgled along to the music in his head.
"Oh Angie, it's what you dooooo." He didn't even hear the door opening as Angelina stepped into the room.
"Oh Angie, you've got me and, baby, I've got—whoa!" He stopped instantly when he heard clapping at his back.
He swiveled around to see Angelina staring at him. She raised an eyebrow, and the corner of her mouth twisted up into a smile.
"I was knocking forever. Someone had left the door open by the way. And after that, I just had to follow the soothing tones of your voice."
Oliver felt his face heating up. Damn that girl. Sure it was an embarrassing situation, but had she come—oh—2 hours earlier when he'd written the letter, maybe he wouldn't be doing silly dancing and singing off key at the top of his lungs.
"I was singing to my girl, Angie, over here." He looked down to see Angela biting on her fingers. She had apparently forgotten about him as her focus was now locked on the new visitor.
"Awww," Angelina cooed. "Her name is Angelina too?"
She walked over to the crib and immediately Angela grabbed her extended fingers. Oliver frowned. Angela had moved on so fast, even after he had poured out his heart and soul to her in song. Women were all alike.
"It's Angela, actually."
He went to go get a sheet to wrap Angela in.
"That's what I said." Angelina took the sheet from Oliver and wrapped the baby in it. "She's so cute," Angelina cooed, as she held baby Angela in her arms.
"Yeah. Real cute."
Angelina turned to look at him, and laughing, said, "You're not getting jealous of her, are you? Just because she's ten times cuter than you ever could be. Right, Angie?"
Baby Angela gurgled and smiled up at Angelina in agreement.
Oliver crossed his arms with a sigh. Angelina always won everyone over.
She turned to look into his eyes again.
"I was only joking," she said smiling.
Oliver followed her lips as it curved up into her smile. Lips he had kissed just a couple weeks ago.
Oliver gave himself a mental shake. Feeling the need to think about something else, he started walking over to the door.
"Come on, I think she might be hungry. I was trying to put her back to sleep when you came and heard me—uh, singing."
"He thinks your hungry?" she said to the baby in her arms. "And they trusted you with him for the whole night?"
Oliver laughed as he heard baby Angela give another gurgle in agreement. "Well you should've seen us earlier. She was having the time of her life doing my hair."
"I can only imagine," Angelina replied, giving him a look he couldn't interpret.
Things were getting too comfortable again, he thought. His mind reeled as he tried to think of something less intimate. Duh!
"So, Angie, you're going to be a Cannon, eh?"
They had reached the kitchen and Angelina let out a whoop of excitement. Baby Angela started to laugh again.
"Well, as of yesterday," she said, sitting on a stool by the counter. "But you know I'm not officially on the team yet."
"Well, yeah, but you made it to Finals. They cut all the people they don't want in prelims. Trust me. You'll be playing chaser in no time."
She smiled up at him and he felt himself being pulled into her smile. Now if only he could stop thinking about her lips.
He set to work on making a bottle, and several minutes passed in silence. When he turned around to give Angelina the bottle, he found baby Angela fast asleep in her arms. Angelina sat looking down at the baby, rocking back and forth.
Oliver just stood there, smiling and happy to be a part of the peaceful scene. Suddenly, though, Angelina turned brown eyes up to him.
"Why'd you leave without saying goodbye, Oliver?"
Her words had been whispered but it almost made Oliver jump. Why hadn't he said goodbye? Why?
He looked down at her. Her dark brown hair was set in curls today and fell around her face to form a halo. Her eyes, surrounded by thick lashes, were deep and probing and it reminded him of honey. And her lips, though turned down in a frown, still drew his attention the most.
That's why he had left that morning. She was temptation beyond his control. A divine and heavenly creature that made him want to commit nothing but the most earthly of sins.
She sat patiently waiting as Oliver battled with himself. He honestly didn't know what to say to her. That the kiss had affected him more than he ever thought it would? That had he known how sweet she tasted, he would've fought every inch of Fred for her those many years ago? But he didn't think that she'd care for those excuses. And at that moment, he counted Fred the luckiest man on earth.
"I don't know, Ange. I was afraid of seeing you in the morning," he whispered back, his voice a little husky. He took a deep breath. Honesty was the best way. "Because I wanted to kiss you again."
Her eyes grew round and her mouth opened slightly. Each second seemed multiplied by a thousand and just as he took a step forward, there was a loud bang.
They both jumped and baby Angela woke with a start. She started crying immediately and Angelina tried to rock her back to sleep. Oliver looked around for what had made the noise. Suddenly a dark shape came crashing into the kitchen window again. He ran over to it and opened the window just as a small, petite owl zoomed into the room. It zoomed excitedly around the room for a full ten seconds before Oliver could grab a hold of it. On its foot was a tightly wrapped scroll in a bright red color. Oliver recognized it right away.
The howler detached from the jittery bird and floated to hang in front of Angelina.
Ron's voice rang out clearly.
"CONGRATS, ANGIE! YOU'RE WICKED! BRING ME BACK A CANNON'S T-SHIRT AND SOME TICKETS. I'LL BE YOUR FOREVER SLAVE!"
The baby howled ever louder and Angelina looked to Oliver for help. Ron's voice echoed for a second before it was gone completely and the red envelope burst into a stream of confetti. Oliver took the baby from Angelina and tried to put the bottle in her mouth. She wouldn't stop crying though.
Angelina covered hears and began to talk, but Oliver couldn't hear over the crying.
"I said, HOW DID RON GET A HOWLER AT THIS HOUR?" she yelled.
" I DUNNO," was all Oliver could manage as he tried bouncing the screaming baby.
Angelina looked down, and though she wasn't yelling, he thought he could see her lips form, "the twins".
She gave the left over confetti an evil look and with a wave of her wand, cleaned up the mess. She took the bottle from Oliver, and testing it, felt that it was cold. She heated it slightly and took the baby from him. She started cooing again, softer this time, and the baby eventually took the bottle she offered.
Oliver stood back amazed. Was this some female talent that came as natural to them as his gray eyes were personalized for him? She even held the baby differently, he noted with awe.
Oliver sat on the stool she had once occupied and watched Angelina as she made peace for the tormented baby. He was more than happy to just watch.
Tired from all the crying and excitement, baby Angela eventually slipped off to sleep. Angelina continued rocking her for a while, but after stopping to stretch her neck, Oliver suggested they put the baby into its crib.
He took the baby from her and went back upstairs to the nursery. As he lay baby Angela down for the night, he realized how fitting her name was. She looked completely innocent and holy as she lay against her soft pink pillow. His mind switched to another angel who was waiting downstairs. She had saved him once tonight by putting the little one to sleep. But as for bigger problems, such as falling in love with her, he feared he was beyond the power of her good graces.
- - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Hope everyone enjoyed it! Please review.