Disclaimer: Ok, this is FANfiction! You shouldn't even need to write one of these…right? Anyway…I don't own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter Characters…I'm just borrowing them.
Summary: When the gang returns to school after the summer holidays, they've changed. Oliver and Fred are finding themselves strangely drawn to Angelina…but she can't be more than a friend…to either of them…right?
Rating: PG-13 I upped it cause of a few choice words and such - nothing big, but I felt that I should - just to be safe.
Note: The character's thoughts will appear in Italics. Sorry if it's confusing. It's been an awful hard process getting this chapter up - a HUGE thanks to everyone that's reviewed - you really have no clue how much it means to me.
Closest Thing to Heaven
© Angelface04
October 17, 2004
She found him out by the lake - almost the exact place that they'd stood together only weeks before. He either didn't hear her or ignored her as she sat down beside him.
It was a gusty day, the heavy clouds threatening rain and the wind catching hold of robes and hair and sending them whipping around bodies and faces. They sat there for a long moment before she finally began.
"What's the matter?" He didn't acknowledge her for a second.
"What do you think?" He replied.
"I have no idea." She exclaimed, crossing her arms against the wind. "I'm sick of all of this drama!"
"Join the club." She nearly got up and left right then, but when he looked at her she froze. His face betrayed what his voice was trying so hard to hide.
"What exactly are you playing at Ange? If you lead a guy on, one might think you actually like him!"
"What are you talking about Fred? Of course I like you!" He mumbled something before looking away.
"What?" She queried, her soft brown orbs following his jaw-line. For some reason the way that it clenched an unclenched when he was upset fascinated her.
"I said that if you're so bloody fond of Wood shouldn't you be talking to him instead?" Her mouth dropped open as his gaze fell back on her, full of anger and hurt and…and…was that jealousy?
What made him think that I like Oliver? I wasn't staring at him again…was I?
"Oliver?" She squeaked.
"Don't play innocent with me Angelina - I've known you for five years. I've seen the way you stare at him…"
"I do not stare at him!" She defended shrilly. The wind picked up a little speed.
"Come off it Angelina, I know, okay! I've seen you!"
"Look, I don't know what your deal is Fred, but I don't like Oliver! You can believe me or not but that's the honest truth!" This time she stood, her robe billowing around her. "I'm sick of trying to be perfect for you Fred! This is me!" She motioned to herself, her voice catching in her throat. "And when I'm around you I feel like I can be me - but - if you're just going to criticize me than why do I even try?" He was standing up too now.
"Okay, okay, I believe you…I'm sorry…I guess I was just scared, okay?" Something tugged at her heart, making her heart nearly stop beating.
"Scared? Scared of what?" He licked his lips, then looking up at her he said,
"I was just scared, because, I thought that…that I might…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Loose you…I guess…" The sincerity of his words melted her cold exterior and she hoped that she didn't seem too forward when she squeezed him close to her, feeling suddenly warm when he held her back, even as the rain began to fall.
"I'm sorry." She whispered against him. She heard him take a deep breath, then reply.
"Me too…for everything." They stood still for a moment, until there was a crash of thunder that made her jump.
"Want to go inside?" It began to rain harder, pouring down in torrents. He shook his head, flinging water droplets everywhere; his grin lighting up the jokester face that she knew.
"Stay out here with me?"
"But class-" He hugged her closer.
"Hang class." He murmured.
"If we're caught-"
"Then we'll get detentions-"
"What if we're expelled?"
"For skipping class?!"
"I don't know!"
"Who cares?" He nuzzled his face in her soaking hair.
"If I get phenomena I'm blaming you." She teased, pulling back for a second. Lightning snaked across the sky and reflected on the lake and she shivered. He pulled her back to him.
"Okay." He smiled back. "I'll come and visit you in the hospital wing…and bring you flowers…" He rested his forehead against hers, the tips of their noses touching.
She laughed suddenly.
"What?" He asked.
"I guess I never thought that I'd be standing out in the pouring rain with you." He smiled smugly.
"Well, what can I say?" He replied mischievously. "I'm irresistible…. rain or shine…" She laughed and he stroked her cheek gently as she sighed.
"Could this moment be any more perfect?"
"Maybe…" And with that he leant down to kiss her. She forgot where she was, and let herself go until another loud crash came from above, reminding her that she was sopping wet, out in the rain, kissing Fred Weasley. His hands moved from her back to her hips as they pulled away, panting. He laughed as she blushed, but didn't tease her. He kissed her cheek instead.
"I'm cold." She whispered.
"And…?" He kissed her other cheek.
"It's windy."
"So-?" He kissed the tip of her nose.
"So…" She repeated. He pecked her lips again, then smiled.
"Okay. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and, as they walked up to the castle, every inch of their body soaking, she realized that she hadn't thought of Oliver one time.
Forget about it. Forget about her! She's not worth all of this…she's not worth any of this! She's just a stupid girl, and you just let your stupid hormones get in the way. You don't really care about her! She's too young for you anyway. Besides, your leaving this year…and you'd just have to leave her, sooner or later. You'll let your new life get in the way and you'll forget all about her. Once you go away, you'll forget about the way that her head tilts when she laughs…and the way that her lip quivers when she's upset, and the way that her eyes light up when she scores…and…and…
You'll never forget her.
He sighed as he twisted again in bed. This wasn't working. He couldn't go on like this.
"Oh bloody hell Wood, you can't forget her! You never will because you love her, and you can't change it!" He was exhausted, and he knew that it was late but, once again, he couldn't get to sleep. Why? Because he couldn't keep Angelina Johnson out of his mind for one bloody second.
If I see them ogling at each other one more time, I know I'll do something completely rash. I know they're officially "together" now, but she hasn't so much as glanced at me for a week.
And Nina…when I'm with her…Merlin…at first I thought that she could replace Angie…I really did. She cared so much, and when we kissed it seemed like it was right - but - then her kisses just lost feeling and meaning and now, everytime that she touches me I feel filthy, but I don't do anything to stop it. I know it's wrong, but what else can I do? I can't go on pretending like this - I can't keep on choosing not to feel because it's killing me.
It's killing me.
Flip, flip, dip, write.
Flip, flip, dip, write.
He carried on it that pattern for nearly five minutes before she looked up at him, studying him. He looked like he was in a trance. He used the same mechanical moves, didn't sigh or smile or laugh like he used to. After a few more minutes of robotics she finally interrupted him.
"Oliver, you have got to stop." She smiled at him as he started, and then looked at her, seeming lost, unsure of where he was or what he was doing.
"Stop what?" He queried innocently, setting his quill down.
"You've been doing the exact same thing for ten minutes now. You know - turn two pages, dip your quill in ink, then write on your parchment?" He smiled weakly, running his hand through his hair. "I'm worried about you Oliver." She reached for his hand and he let her hold it, though he didn't really feel it. "You haven't been yourself."
He scoffed to himself. She didn't even know him…how would she know if he was himself or not?
"I'm alright Nina…just kind of overwhelmed…with N.E.W.T.'s and Quidditch…and…"
Her voice was a tiny whisper, but he heard the word clear-as-a-bell. "Angelina?" His hand dropped hers and his mouth involuntarily fell open.
"A-Angelina?" He knew that his face was white, but he couldn't help it. How had she known?
"I'm not blind Ol." She whispered again, dropping his hand and studying the table. He stared at her for a long moment, contemplating. Should he try to deny it, or should he just let it all out, tell the truth and be done with it?
"Nina…I…"
"No." She stood, brushing he hair back from her face. "No, Ol, I…can't hear this…Don't tell me." And with that she briskly walked away. Oliver found his head in his hands, wondering how much longer until he finally broke.
Only one word flew through George's mind when the dormitory door slammed shut, and his redheaded red-faced twin burst through the dormitory door.
Angelina.
His eyes left his broom (he was just giving it a nice wax) and traveled up to Fred who was searching…or…rather…tearing through his trunk, looking for something.
"What happened?" George continued to clean his broom as Fred kicked his trunk, moved over to his beside table, and yanked open the drawer.
"I don't want to talk about it." He growled, shoving the drawer shut and knocking over a few disregarded books and late essays.
"Alright then." He would fess sooner or later, he always did. George set down his rag, glancing up at Fred with a teasing grin that he was trying to hide. "Snape didn't come on to you again did he?" Fred threw him a nasty look.
"Not in the mood George!" George chuckled as Fred marched over to the closet, flung open the door, and began throwing things around.
"Alright then." George said again, picking the rag back up and proceeding the polish the opposite side of his Cleansweep.
"I cannot bloody believe her!" Fred's muffled voice carried through the room as George nonchalantly eyes his broom carefully for missed spots.
"And why's that?"
"I cannot believe her!" He came back out of the closet and tossed himself down on his bed.
"Why's that?" George mundanely screwed the lid back onto his polish.
"She called me…. she called me - Oliver." And now Fred was glaring at him, his famous Weasley temper seething through him in an almost comical way. George looked back down at his broom, hoping to hide the soft smile on his face.
"Who?"
"Bloody - Angelina- my bloody girlfriend!" He picked up his pillow and pelted it across the room where it came into contact with Lee's figurine of some muggle character and made it crash to the floor.
Okay…he's a little more upset than I thought…
Fred, calm down mate. It was just a mistake. I'm sure she didn't-"
"She tried to cover it up too George! She went all wide-eyed and started blabbering about how she was sorry and-"
"And what did you do?"
"I left her there- that's what! What was I supposed to do, laugh?"
"Well…." George looked up at the ceiling and then back down at his brother. "Yeah?"
"You're an awful lot of help!" Fred scowled, turning over. "Merlin, why does she do this to me?!"
You're doing it to yourself you little prat.
"Haven't the faintest." George replied, folding up his rag neatly (mostly to annoy Fred who was absolutely fuming at his serenity.)
"So what am I supposed to do?" Fred finally asked, turning back around. "Just, let it slide?"
"Er…you could call her Katie?" George grinned up at Fred sloppily and was soon blocking another fiercely thrown pillow.
"Don't be a git George, I know…I know she likes him…"
"Bull." This made for a groan from Fred who stuffed his face into a pillow.
"So…" George stood, leaning his broom onto his nightstand and surveying the mess that Fred had created furiously searching for nothing. "You're going to clean up this pit right?" And then he sprinted for the door, closing it and hearing the light thump of a pillow against it.
She was sitting with her head in her hands in a not-so-crowded common room when she felt a movement next to her. She didn't look up.
"Smooth move Johnson." Came a voice that she readily recognized.
"Oh George how could I have been so stupid?!" She moaned, not moving. He shrugged, though she couldn't see it.
"I guess it comes with having a stupid boyfriend. People rub off on each other." She smiled in spite of herself.
"I'm not going to have a boyfriend period if I can't keep my wretched mouth closed!"
"Listen, all humor aside-" She looked up. "Do you like Oliver or what?" Angelina sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"God George, I - I don't know anymore." They were silent for a minute, and then George stood.
"Well, that explains a lot." There was a little anger in his voice that made Angelina startle.
He's not still mad about that fight that Oliver and him had forever ago…is he?
"George-"
"To each his own I suppose."
"George!"
"What?"
"Don't be a prick!"
"You're one to talk!"
"I don't want to get into a fight over this George! Not with Fred like he he is and me…like I am…"
"God Ange - don't do this to him. Fred's been bloody crazy about you since - forever and then you go and screw him over like this!"
"I didn't mean to George. Really." He sighed. They were silent for a moment. "Is he really heated?" George nodded. She sighed. "Great."
"It'll work out Angie." He suddenly caught sight of a certain blonde-haired chaser lurking near the corner of the common room…all alone."Listen - I'm - uh - gonna go talk to Katie…'kay?" She smiled up at him gently.
"Good luck with your love life."
"Who said anything about love life?" He retorted. She raised her eyebrows. He returned her small smile. "See ya'." Angelina watched as Katie's eyes lit up when George joined her, wishing that Fred would forgive her.
But how can you blame him Angelina? You called him Oliver! As if he didn't already hate him enough!
Speak of the devil…
And sure enough, walking straight through the door was Oliver Wood. And sure enough, despite the glare's and evil looks he received from George and Katie, he plopped down right next to Angelina. And sure enough, the moment he opened his mouth Angelina knew what he was going to say…
HAHA! Cliffe! (IF you call that a Cliffe of course). So…let me know what you think! Ooh yeah, see that button? The blue one? It says Go on it….yes…THERE it is! Click it! Write something!
Please? pout-y face
And by the way, thanks for everyone who reviewed "What Could've Happened" and "Just Draco" it means an awful lot! Thanks!