Ch.5

I have lost both my best friends to girls. Emma "The Matchmaker" Dobbs has succeeded with not one, but two new couples in a single week. Not a record, but not common either. I finally talked Penelope into going to a 'study date' with Percy. Poor guy, really confident in everything he does except when it comes to girls. However, this time his bumbling personality charmed its way into Penelope's favor. She found him 'absolutely adorable'. And once he calmed down and could talk in coherent sentences, she realized how intellectual he really was.

"I thought I'd he'd be really cocky, you know, because he's brainy, but discovered he was just as sweet as could be. Well, he's also determined, ambitious, and I daresay a bit powerful, but he has this aura around him. I felt a magnetism towards his charisma." She grinned. "He's not the guy I thought he was. I completely misread him. Damn he's hot." She muttered under her breath as he walked into the library and quickly made his way over.

"Hey Penelope." He blushed.

"Hey Emma." He added as an afterthought.

"Hey Percy." Penelope and I answered together.

Percy gave me a look that simply stated to get the hell out of here. I gave in.

"Well, I'm off to, er, find Oliver." And I high-tailed my way out of there. I ended up going back to the common room and sitting alone by the fire. You see, Oliver and Evelyn had hit it off. They had now been dating a full three weeks, and I hadn't seen him since. It was spooky. It's almost like she's brainwashed him. I've never seen anybody so whipped.

I had to talk to him. I couldn't fathom what was happening. He had changed so much in the short time he had been with her. He didn't laugh as much as he used to. His sly, sarcastic wit had changed into a mean, vindictive taunt. He seldom looked me in the eye and he bluntly refused to sit next to me in class or at mealtimes. The kind, loving look he used to have on his face when he looked at me had changed into one of contempt. When I have tried to talk to him, his reply becomes strained and I feel like I am annoying the crap out of him. He wasn't Ollie anymore. He had become someone different, and that petrified me.

To be honest, I don't think he's even allowed to talk to me. The first week they were together, I'd wait up for him in the common room, see how things were going. He'd just brush past me mumbling something about being too tired to chat. That wasn't the Oliver I knew. My boy loved to talk. I mean, yeah, he was always talking about Quidditch, but at the same time he always knew when to listen. I realized that after there was no one to talk to anymore.

Something had to be done. Evelyn Darcy had programmed Oliver into her own twisted version of the perfect, submissive boyfriend.

It made me sick to my stomach.

I got my chance to corner him early one March morning. I felt a tad uneasy targeting him during the Ides of March, but it was the first time I got him alone.

"We have to talk Oliver." I said, cornering him in the common room.

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Well, I have something to say to you, and you sure as hell are going to hear me out."

"I don't have time, I've got homework to do."

"This won't take long."

"I said I don't have time." He glared at me, his voice straining. He started to push past me. I shoved right back.

"You will listen to me, even if it requires a full body bind curse. And since I don't know the countercurse, you might as well surrender now."

"I will not submit to your empty threats." He growled and went to go around me. I whipped out my wand and held it in front of his face.

"Don't move." I said, my voice quivering slightly. He stared at it like a man looking down the barrel of a gun. It seemed to change his mind about moving. He made no move, and I took it as a sign he had given up.

"Who are you?" I asked, searching his eyes for an answer, but the gateway to his soul was closed.

"You know who I am."

"I know who you used to be."

"What, I'm different now?"

"Yes."

"You know, that's what people do, they change."

"But only slightly. I don't even recognize you anymore."

"Then maybe you aren't looking hard enough."

"You've got to break up with Evelyn. She's controlling you."

"Evelyn has done nothing but make me a better person!" He shouted at me, the first time either of us had raised our voices. I had hit a nerve.

"If by a better person you mean scumbag, then yeah, you got it right."
"Who are you to judge me?" He asked, using his height to tower over and intimidate me.

"The same person I've always been."

"Who's that?"

"Your best friend. Somebody that truly cares about you. I can look into your eyes and see you. Not just a face, but your soul. I know what makes you angry, I know what makes you laugh. I know everything about you that she doesn't. Do I sound familiar?"

"Only in memory."

"Then who do you think I am now?"

"Someone who is trying to come between me and Evie."

"Can't you see she has complete control over you? When is the last time you thought for yourself?" He seemed taken slightly aback by those words but recovered quickly.

"You know, she was right about you."

"What lies has she told you about me?"

"Lies, oh no, not lies. Perfect truth. She told me from the very beginning that you would get jealous, possessive even. She knew that you wouldn't be able to see me happy. You've got to tear me down."

"When have I EVER torn you down? Am I not the person that held you all night when your Grandpa died? Who was there when you didn't make the Quidditch team in your second year? Who practiced with you every night for a YEAR to make you better? I did. Am I not the one that has been to every Quidditch match and practice rooting for you? I have ALWAYS been there for you. Who else can make you laugh the way I can? Does she make you laugh Oliver? Would she be there for you when you really needed her?"

He seemed stunned. He thought carefully before answering me.

"I do not doubt her loyalties to me. She would be there for me as I would be there for her."

"Her loyalties to you? Do you know the same night she asked me to hook the two of you up she had a date with Roger Davies?"

"You LIE!" he shouted.

"I would never lie to you."

"That is enough Emma! I'm not going to put up with this, or you, anymore. I'm tired of dealing with you and your jealousy. I have made my choice, I love Evelyn and that is enough for me. She may have her faults, but she's perfect in my eyes. I don't need you anymore. Just...stay away from me. Stay away from us. I don't want to ever talk to you again, and I don't ever want to see you again. I won't let you pull me down."

"You don't mean that." My voice was definitely cracking now. My worst fears were materializing right in front of me.

"I have never felt more definite in my life. This is our goodbye Emma."

I didn't want to believe his words, but the cold, icy, steeliness of his eyes told the truth. He really hated me. He despised me. How did she do it? How could she have completely transformed him? My eyes welled up with tears and I tensed up as he took the opportunity to leave. I slowly turned around as he marched up the staircase to his dormitory. The tears started to spill freely as the reality of what just happened hit me. I collapsed to the floor and started sobbing into my hands.

My life had just walked out.