Chapter Fifteen
"Marie's back in Hogwarts, but she's not the same," Michael Wood said, raiding the fridge of the Prefect Lounge. Oliver took a swig of his butterbeer and sighed.
"She wouldn't be the same, Mike."
"I know… but I miss her. It's kind of sad; she doesn't really talk to anyone."
"Why don't you talk to her, then?"
"Because, I'm a Gryffindor. She's a Slytherin. It's like… you know, forbidden."
"Fuck that, then. If you see her, I want you to talk to her. I want you to bring her to every single class she has and I want you to bring her back to her Common Room every day."
"What? Why?"
"Because she needs a friend. No one else in this school knows what happened except you."
"Shane, Ashley and Dom know…" Mike muttered. Oliver took another sip and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I know they know, but they still think Marie's a snobby, ungrateful Slytherin, don't they? Don't sulk, you know I'm right," Oliver said with a short laugh.
"I have to check up on her, anyway. Dumbledore's put me in charge of her. The Dungeons totally freak her out, now, so she can't go to her Potions class without me. I have Transfiguration at that time, so McGonagall just gives me some tutoring after dinner, hence, the bags under my eyes." Mike stood up wearily and ran a hand through his hair. "Her Potions class starts in, like, five minutes. You can come, if you want."
Oliver followed Mike to the front of the Slytherin Common Room gate. Mike muttered the password and walked inside. "I hate coming here," he whispered, walking down the stairs. He knocked on a door. "Marie?"
"Zabz, your fucking bodyguard is here." Mike rolled his eyes and opened the door.
"Shut it, Jefferson," he growled, letting his werewolf part come out slightly. Oliver nudged him softly and shook his head. "Whatever. Come on, you'll be late. Jefferson, Pikett, get a move on."
Marie clutched onto Mike the moment she stepped out of the Slytherin chambers. Oliver kept a steady pace a few steps behind the two of them.
"Mikey?" Marie asked in a whisper.
"'Sup?"
"Did you find Joey yet?" she inquired hopefully. Mike didn't answer and gripped her a little tighter. "Can you –"
"Yes, Marie, I'll tell you if we do." Oliver watched his brother closely and put a second thought to following them to the dungeons.
"Mike, I'm heading back home. I have an exhibition game coming up in a couple of hours," he said.
"Okay, have fun." Oliver made a bee-line to McGonagall's office and left by floo powder.
"Oliver! Hurry up!" Hermione called. "You're going to be late!"
"You don't think I know that?" Oliver hurried up the stairs, pulling off his sweater in the process. He tripped over the top step and fell with his sweater half over his head. Hermione laughed and sat down on the floor beside him.
"You're adorable." Oliver grinned cheekily and pulled her in for a kiss. He caressed her cheek lightly before laying down flat on his back, dragging her with him.
Hermione smiled and deepened the kiss, running her tongue over Oliver's bottom lip. He let out a soft growl from his throat.
"Hermione…" he murmured.
"Mm hrmm?" she asked, pecking him softly on the lips before propping her elbows on his chest.
"…As much as I enjoy this… I'm really going to be late for warm-up."
"…Are you sure you're straight?" Hermione asked. Oliver laughed and sat up with Hermione in his lap. He kissed her neck.
"Positive."
"Do that again."
"What? Why?"
"Because, it felt good. Do it ag –"
"…Ahem…?" Oliver and Hermione looked up and saw an extremely amused Dimitrius. "…Yeah… you're late?"
"Shit," Oliver muttered and stood up. "Now look what you did." Hermione stuck out her tongue and went down the stairs. "I'll be out in a sec." Dimitrius nodded and waited outside his bedroom door. Hermione came up again with a glass of water.
"Have fun?" Dim inquired with a smirk. Hermione smiled and kicked him just as Oliver came out.
"…What happened to him?" he asked. Dimitri only moaned from his place on the floor. Hermione shrugged innocently. "…Okay, let's go."
"What's Muggle college like, Notting?" Lawrence Reddy asked in the locker room.
"Your mom goes to college!" Greg Notting called out
"Ooooohhhh!" Greg and Dim slapped hands together, brought their arms in a windmill and slapped each other's ass as they passed each other. (A/N: …Don't ask how I know men do this.)
"AND PUDDLEMERE UNITED!" The seven starters of the team froze and looked at each other.
"…OH SHIT!" They scrambled around the locker room, trying to get their attire on properly, seeing as how the majority of them didn't even have their uniform on.
"…Puddlemere United…? Ah – there! PUDDLEMERE UNITED! …Is that Captain Geoff Hutchinson with his jock on the outside of his trousers?" The whole team laughed out loud and pointed and Geoff. He flipped them all off and flew back to the changing room, delaying the game a good ten minutes.
"Had to go to the washroom," was his answer.
"Clean game!" the ref called and threw the Quaffle into to the air. One of the bludgers came straight for Oliver. He swore, did a loop hole and flew towards his goal posts, eyeing the bludger warily. The crowd cheered loudly for him.
"Wood!" Geoff called a quarter through the game. Oliver turned his way and flew towards him.
"Time!" Dimitrius yelled to the ref.
"And that's a Time Out for Puddlemere…"
"What happened?" one of the beaters Kristofer Curman asked. (A/N: …Heh, Kristofer Curman... I couldn't help it, Reena…)
"Look, Oliver… you too, Dim," Geoff murmured, pulling them closer. "Look to the far corner of the stands. Just above it." Oliver and Dimitrius both took a quick glance and saw the Dark Mark.
"Shit," they both whispered, looking at each other.
"Yeah. Do you guys want to go? I could get the reserve-"
"I'm going to wait," Oliver interrupted. "They would know something was up if I just suddenly got off the game. I mean," he glanced at Dim, "They don't know about you, but they know about me. You could go, but I can't." Dim nodded, muttered something to the other four teammates and took off. "AND TELL HERMIONE!" Oliver sighed and looked back at the Mark.
"Everyone's so bloody ignorant now," Geoff growled. "Okay, run Eggie Pie'd and Wood, try your best to stay focused." Puddlemere went back into the game. (A/N: I have no fucking idea what Eggie Pie'd is… I was thinking of eggs and pie.)
"What're you going to do?" Kristofer asked Oliver on the way up.
"Wait," Oliver replied. "And watch the bludgers… if there are any Death Eaters here, they'll be aiming them at me." Curman nodded and flew back to his assigned spot.
At half-time, Oliver apparated back to Hogsmeade and sprinted his way down the trail to Hogwarts. "Fifteen minutes," he gasped to himself. "Man, I'm so fat…" He threw the great oak doors open and bolted down the corridors to McGonagall's office.
"Wood?" McGonagall questioned as she stood up. Oliver held onto the doorknob for support and nodded his head. "What is it?" Oliver held up a hand. "Wood…"
"God, I'm tired, hang on!"
"WHAT IS IT?" Oliver stared at her, wide-eyed and still panting.
"Um… did I get you – oh, right, sorry. Uh, yeah, down at Bucklefoot's Field… exhibition game… Death Eaters, I think. I haven't seen any yet, but the whole team saw the Dark Mark in the sky – don't look at me like that! I have too many things on my mind! Look, I have like…" Oliver glanced at his watch, "seven minutes left! Can you please get a team down there now?" He took off again through the school and once he got back to the Village, apparated back to the Field.
"Where'd you go?" the other beater, Jeph Sonique asked in the locker room five minutes later. (A/N: Yeah… two 'Jeffs' on the team, Geoff and Jeph… then there's a Slytherin with the last name 'Jefferson'… haha I like the name Jeff…)
"Hogwarts," Oliver answered and pulled off his jacket. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah, is anyone coming?" Geoff asked as they prepared to fly again.
"Probably."
"Puddlemere United!"
"Got your jock on properly?" Greg snickered before they lifted off the ground. Geoff flipped him off and grinned. Although this was quite funny, Oliver couldn't laugh or talk, let alone move. He had just spotted a faint silhouette of Mike Wood walking across the field.
"Wood!" Oliver snapped out of his trance and flew towards his posts, shooting Mike a death glare as he soared over his head. Mike saw him and quickened his pace towards the stairs to the bleachers.
"Jephie!" Curman shouted across the field. Jeph spun around on his broom and cocked his head sideways. Kris pointed at his two eyes, then up to a bludger slightly bluer than the other. Jeph nodded, shot a glance at the bludger and flew down to the top left corner of the field. Once the whistle blew, the bludger soared around the stadium before making a quick turn to Oliver.
"Wood, watch it!" the reserve Chaser that was subbing for Dimitrius, David Barrazoul, shouted. Oliver's eyes went wide and he flew through one of his hoops to dodge it. The Quaffle went through the top hoop as he did that.
"SHIT!" he yelled and kicked the goalposts in frustration.
"Calm down," Geoff murmured as he passed by.
"A little hard," Oliver snapped before turning his attention back to the game.
((Michael's PoV))
I watched in absolute horror as the bludger missed Oliver by two centimeters. I watched in absolute horror as he cursed himself and practically broke his toe kicking the goalposts. I watched in absolute horror as the bludger went back for more. The bludger took Jephie down smoothly before soaring towards Oliver once again.
I jumped out of my seat and leaned over the railing to see where Jeph went. He hung from his broom one hundred feet above the ground, one hand holding his bat, the other grasping his Firebolt for dear life.
"Don't," Dominick hissed and grabbed me by the shoulder. "You'll give away our position."
I sat back down and began breathing normally again. I glanced back and forth between the darkening sky and the game.
"What week is it?" I asked nervously.
"Week three. Don't worry, it's only half moon tonight, Mikey," Dominick assured me. "ALL RIGHT, SONIQUE!"
I relaxed a little after I saw Jeph safe and flying through the stadium. This was the longest game ever, I swear… that is, until one observant spectator screamed and starting yelling about the Dark Mark in the sky.
"Book it," I murmured to Dom and we both raced down the tower towards the Puddlemere changing rooms. "Mike Wood, Puddlemere United's Keeper's brother," I panted. The auror, who was also part of the Order, let me and Dom through. "Hey," I added, "Kingsley, it's gonna be hell up there soon. Some people spotted it."
"Well, where're you two going?" he demanded in a deep voice.
"To the bench," Dom replied and yanked me away. "Come on!" We hurried down the sweat-reeking hallway until we reached a set of double doors that said 'Home'.
"Alohomora," I whispered and pushed through.
"Call time out," Dom shouted at the manager. The manager of Puddlemere, Beens, looked at us in shock, then flagged Geoff down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dimitri barge through the doors with Hermione and Krista in tow.
"What the-?"
"Dark Mark," me and Dominick said at the same time.
"Oh, I know."
"Puddlemere calls another Time Out!"
"What's wrong, Beens?" Geoff asked as he landed. Oliver, Jeph, Kristofer, David, Lawrence and Greg followed in suit.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Oliver growled, quickly advancing on me. I stood my ground and glared at him.
"The Dark Mark, Oliver! Why do you still play as if you haven't noticed it?"
"Nobody else has, that's why!"
"Oh, really?" I snorted and bobbed my head towards the top stands. The whole team looked up to find all of them filing down the stairs and away from the stadium.
OH MY GOD, I'M SO SORRY! I swear, I have the worst things ever: ADD AND short term memory, plus I've got mid-term Exams now so I've been studying lately… )
Thanks to all you who reviewed, I'll try to get the next chapter posted soon!
Xoxo,
Anna.