xX... HOPE YOU ENJOY! ...xX

When he'd managed to wipe the dirt from his eyes, Oliver Wood fought to stand up. His legs were shaky and his head throbbed. Wiping his mud covered hands on his scarlet robes he tried to get his eyes to focus. Suddenly, a whooshing sound from behind him brought him back. A figure on a broomstick and just whizzed by and was now turning around to land.

"all right than Oliver?" Said the boy landing, he was at least 3 or 4 years younger than Oliver and had messy black hair.

"Yeah. Think so." Oliver managed to croak out, forcing a lopsided smile, as he cracked his back.

"Nasty fall you took there." The shaggy haired boy said, taking a step closer to Oliver, "Want me to get Madam Pomfrey?" He said in his quiet voice.

Oliver shook his head, "Nah, thanks. I'm good."

"Well."

"Yeah."

There was a somewhat awkward silence than:

"Thanks Harry, really. Let's get back to practice? Right?"

"Yeah." Harry picked up his broom and kicked off.

"Oy! Wood! all right?" A red haired boy shot from 15 or so feet up.

"Good thanks." and Oliver, embarrassed now, got back on his broom and kicked off.

"all right than, you buggers. Let's run the drill again and let's TRY to control the bludgers please Weasleys!"

Someone threw a quaffle at him.

XOXOXOXO

After a long, cleansing shower, Wood, wrapped in a towel, emerged from the bathroom feeling refreshed. Walking back to his dormitory, Wood thought about the exchange that afternoon with Harry. Harry had always been there. Never really a person though, not someone Wood joked with. Harry was someone who saved schools and made outrageous plays. Not a friend.

Reaching the dormitory, Wood stepped in side and pulled off his towel. Searching around for a pair of boxers he squat digging under his bed,

"Bit early to start your career isn't it Wood?" Came a voice from behind him.

Even though it was just a "boys" dorm, no one paraded around naked. Wood spun around, standing up. Lazing about on his bed was Fred Weasley. He could tell because of a small freckle beneath the right side of his nose.

"Didn't see you there, Fred." Oliver stammered. No matter how fit you are, it's always embarrassing to be seen even without a shirt on around your peers. Wood was by no means unattractive. He was lean and fit, muscle-y with short cropped hair.

"Don't mind me," Weasley began, "I'm just enjoying the show."

Oliver never got these comments, was that Fred's way of saying that he was gay? Or was it a joke? He hoped it was the latter.

"Shut it, or I'll beat the shit out of you. Naked." Oliver snapped and, finally finding a pair of tartan boxers, slid them on. He found a white t-shirt and slipped it on over his fit frame.

"Not homophobic are we, Wood?" Weasley coo'd.

"Not in the slightest." He shot back as he dug around his trunk for his book. Coming up again, he had produced thin volume bound in old leather, "I'm getting some great ideas from this lovely little book!" He said happily, "We're going to have an INTENSE practice tomorrow!" He chirped and, plopping down on his bed, started to read, stopping only to scribble notes in a small notepad.

That's me. Oliver thought, reading about the Lucomby Tactic of 1789. Quidditch obsessed Oliver Wood. Tough Oliver Wood. Oliver Wood who'll do anything to win the house cup. Oliver Wood and Katie Bell. Oliver and... He set his quill down, not entirely fascinated with The Latvian surprises victory on 1264. What about... Shit, he thought. Stop thinking like that. That's not what I am. I am Oliver Wood... I am-

"all right there, Ollie Wollie?" Came a cooing voice.

Wood snapped up, he must've been doing something odd. Oliver picked up his quill, which had leaked a small stain on his bedspread,

"I'm good, thanks. Just a little..."

Fred pulled on his sweater, "Right. No time to chat Ollie Wollie. I'm going to get a cake or two. I'll talk to you- my homophobic friend, later."

Oliver chucked his snitch shaped pillow at him as he ducked out the door.

There is a time, in every boys life when, as they become a man they ask themselves...

WHO THE FUCK AM I!

For 17 year old Oliver Wood, that time was now.

Let's see, thought Oliver, what do I already know?

I was born on New Years, thin and frail. 1 month early. Muggle doctors saved my life. I grew up a strange Muggle in Glasgow, son of a working class dad. Mam left. I got my letter and came to Hogwarts. i'm somewhat normal. Right?

Anyway- he didn't have time for such stupid questions. Getting up, book and pad tossed aside, now forgotten, he pulled gave his clock a glance. It was barely 10.30 but, for some odd reason- he was dead tired. Clearing his bed with one swift movement, he pulled his curtains shut and fell into a deep sleep.

He dreamt, but would not remember it...

Someone was crying. Oliver looked up from polishing his broom. Who was it! Wandering through the rain he found Harry Potter, sprawled naked on the quidditch pitch, sobbing.

"Don't worry. I'm here" Oliver said, stroking his hair quietly.

But Harry kept on crying.

"Want to play some quidditch?" Oliver asked, but Harry responded by sobbing.

Quietly, Oliver picked up the naked and shaking Harry. He was lean and fit and quite cold. Trembling, Oliver carried Harry up to the school and, as other students pelted him with fruit and vegetables, he carried Harry all the way to his bed.

"'You're fine now, You're safe..." He coo'd.

And, finally, Harry stopped crying. He kept on shaking for a moment, but stopped. Just as Oliver leant down to give Harry a kiss-

Oliver sat bolt upright in his bed, he was drenched in a cold sweat. He looked at the clock, 3.30. This wasn't like him, wiping his brow he tiptoed out of bed and tiptoed down the staircase to the common room. Helping himself to a cup of room temperature water, he sat in the big armchair by the dwindling fire and stared.

"You ok?" A voice came from behind him.

Standing at the foot of the steps was chaser Katie Bell, in a tank top and PJ pants. Oliver stared at her large chest and found, to his horror, that he didn't care. He felt like sobbing.

"I'm great, thanks. Tired..." He got up and, pushing past her, made his way back to the dormitory.

This wasn't right. This wasn't him. This wasn't-

"Oh sorry." He'd just run smack into someone on the way to the bathroom,

"Harry?"

Harry, on his way to the bathroom, looked dead tired. His hair was in 10 different directions and he wore only a pair of boxers. He's beautiful, Wood thought. Than stopped.

"Lo Oliver," he murmured in his quiet voice.

Oliver scratched his head and started to walk the hall to his dormitory.

"Something you wanna talk about, palsy?" Katie's voice came from behind him.

"I'm really good," Oliver said.

"You sure? C'mon Wood. How long've we been friends?"

"Katie. I'm fine Just can't sleep- I mean... I'm exhausted. Night."

And with that, he opened the door to his dormitory, got in his bed and fell fast asleep- still worried about what was growing inside of him.

xX... ALL REVIEWS WOULD BE APPRECIATED! ...xX