There was no other feeling in the world like being on a broomstick with the earth a hundred feet below. On this Harry was of the same mind as his former Quidditch captain. Even before Oliver had started dating his sister, Harry had great respect and admiration for him. Sometimes he wasn't sure which of them loved the game more.
"Oh come on Harry," Oliver yelled. "A blind troll could have blocked that. Give me a challenge." The two of them had come out for a bit of practice. For the last hour Oliver had been lobbing golf balls, in lew of an actual Snitch, in all directions for Harry to catch. Now Harry was tossing a basketball the size of a Quaffle toward a tall tree that was substituting for a hoop.
"You'll never be a Chaser, Potter," Oliver said as he effortlessly smacked the basketball away.
"Guess I inherited my dad's Quidditch skills, instead of my mum's," Harry said giving the ball another toss. Oliver smacked it hard with the end of his broom and Harry had to duck to keep from getting hit.
"Let's take a break," Oliver suggested. Harry nodded. They brought their broomsticks down to the soft grass below.
"You haven't lost your touch at all, Harry. You might have a future in Quidditch"
"Maybe," he said. He hadn't really thought much about what he would do once he got out of Hogwarts.
"Just out of curiosity Oliver," Harry said as he settled down on the grass. "Why do you always stay here when you're in London? Why not stay with your parents? They must miss you." Oliver looked at him in surprise.
"Didn't Lucy tell you? My parents and I had a quite a row two months ago. We haven't spoken since"
"Why?" Harry said astonished.
"You see Harry, my parents have never really supported my dreams to play professional Quidditch. It was fine while I was in school, but once I got out, they expected me to get a real job." Harry shook his head. Obviously, Oliver's parents didn't know him very well if they thought that Quidditch was just a game for him.
"What did they want you to do"
"Oh, big important things. 'You've got such potentioal Oliver. You could work for Gringotts, or even the Ministry.' But all I wanted was to play Quidditch. When I hurt my eye, my parents thought maybe I'd come to my senses. They were thrilled when Dumbledore offered me the teaching position. Finally, a real job. Then when Lucy fixed my sight and the team welcomed me back...my parents were furious. 'Didn't that Bludger knock any sense into you. You could get hurt again, maybe permanently, maybe even killed. And you won't be able to play forever, what will you do then?' The whole thing was pretty ugly"
"I bet," Harry said.
"Anyway, my dad said if I walked out I shouldn't ever bother coming back. I walked out and I haven't been back since"
"Wait," Harry said. "I think I remember now. I came home from the Burrow and you and Lucy were up in her room. You seemed upset so I didn't want to intrude. Then you spent the night in our guest room"
"I didn't know where else to go. I couldn't give up Quidditch but I didn't have any place to sleep."
"The team must be really glad to have you back," Harry said.
"My manager Lowell Dunkirk pratically burst into tears when I returned all healed up. I think he would have proposed marriage to Lucy if I hadn't already staked a claim"
"Speaking of which," Harry said. "Any trouble getting to her room last night?" Oliver chuckled.
"I assure you Harry, your sister's virtue is still intact"
"If I thought for one second it wasn't, I assure you Wood, you would beg for death before I got through with you." Wood smiled.
"Between you, Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks, it's actually Tonks I'm the most afraid of"
"Why Tonks? Lupin's the werewolve. What did Tonks threaten you with?" Oliver cringed.
"You don't want to know. Let's just say that an overprotective father is nothing compared to the wraith of a woman protecting her best friend." Harry had to admit he had a point. Hermione had on more than one occasion threatened to hex him if he ever hurt Ginny, and he was much more afraid of her than of all the Weasley brothers combined. Harry laid back on the grass and tossed on of the golf balls into the air a few times.
"Now that you mention it," Oliver said. "Is Sirius ill"
"What do you mean"
"I've been here two days and he hasn't threatened to hex me, or shot me a dirty look, or anything. And last night I left my room and went to Lucy's as sure as you please. No locking charms, no sensors, nothing"
"I don't understand it either, Oliver. Just last week he threatened to blast off your...well you can guess.. Of course that was after that picture of you came out in the Daily Prophet." Oliver cringed.
"I assume you're talking about the one where I've got four young female fans hanging all over me. Headline reads: Bachelor Wood Loved By His Adoring Fans"
"That would be the one," Harry said.
"I was hoping Lucy didn't see that"
"She did. But she just shook her head. Sirius was angrier than she was." Oliver sighed.
"It's not something that I can do anything about, Harry. I don't know how many times I've had to fight off young women. I tell them I have a girlfriend but it never dissuades them. 'Your girl doesn't have to know' they all say. I hate it. I get a lot of guff from my team mates too. None of them understand why I would stay loyal to one woman when I've got so many throwing themselves at me. 'The answer' I tell them 'is simple. All those other girls look at me and they see England's Keeper whose name happens to be Oliver Wood. Lucy looks at me and sees Oliver Wood who happens to play Keeper for England"
"I'm not sure I get it," Harry said.
"After I lost my sight, I was less than useless to the Quidditch industry. My teammates, my manager, all of 'em said the same thing. "Tough break, now move aside for the guy who can see." Not one of those girls would have given me the time of day in a clock shop if I wasn't playing Quidditch. Lucy loved me when all I was was a half blind flying instructor, teaching eleven year old kids to fly on brooms and refereeing a game I couldn't play. All I had to offer her was myself, and that was enough for her. That's why it's so easy to tell those other girls I'm not interested in a quick shag. I've got the real thing waiting for me at home." Harry was amazed. He'd never heard Oliver speak this way. No matter how much guff he may give him, he was glad that Oliver and Lucy had found each other.
"I'm glad you're here Oliver. I've never seen Lucy happier than when she's with you"
"Thanks Harry," Oliver said not meeting Harry's eye. It made Harry stop and think that maybe Oliver knew something he didn't.
"Um, Oliver, I've uh, I've kind of been a bit concerned about Lucy lately"
"How so?" Oliver said picking absently at a piece of grass.
"I think she's unhappy," Harry said. "I know that she tells you everything Oliver. I just wonder if you know what's going on." Oliver looked down at his hands.
"It's not for me to tell Harry," Oliver said.
"Is it me?" Harry asked.
"No," Oliver said. "it's not you"
"I just get the feeling that she hates living here. I'm the one who talked her into living here, and if she's unhappy"
"It's not just that Harry," Oliver said.
"What is it?" Harry begged. "Tell me something! Tell me anything!" Oliver looked as though he were having a huge inner battle.
"Let me ask you Harry," he finally said. "When you first came to Hogwarts and you found out how great your dad was, you know prefect, Head Boy, Quidditch Captain, all of that, how did it make you feel?" Harry was very confused.
"I don't know. I guess I was happy to know anything about my parents"
"And when people tell you you're just like your dad how does that make you feel?" Harry was even more confused.
"Proud," he said honestly.
"Well, let me ask you this. Does it make you feel like you've got a lot to live up to"
"Yeah, I guess, maybe"
"Well what if, let's just say, that you came to Hogwarts after not knowing who you were or where you come from, and you find out that your father is this amazing wizard who everyone thought was just the greatest. People expect you to live up to the standard that your father has set, and you can't do it. You fall short of the expectations that people have for you. It makes you start to doubt yourself so that you can't even do the tasks that come easy to you"
"We're not talking about me are we?" Harry said a sudden realization coming to him.
"Lucy's under the impression that Sirius, expects her to be just like Lily"
"He doesn't," Harry said. But even as he said it he had to admit that Sirius did tell Lucy that she was like their mother alot.
"Well, she's starting to doubt her abilities, and it's affecting her powers"
"It is?" Harry asked. He had not noticed this. Come to think of it, he'd rearely seen Lucy in the last few days.
"She's lost her ability to make words appear, her wand isn't working, and her potions aren't working out like they should." Harry was stunned. How had he not noticed any of this? He supposed he was so used to seeing Lucy without a wand, that it would be easy to miss her having difficulty with it. But her potions? She spent so much time in her lab, could it be that the reasons ran deeper than he'd thought.
"Why wouldn't she tell us?" Harry wondered.
"I don't know, Harry," Oliver said. "I see the way Sirius is around her. I don't think he could love her any more if she were his own daughter. I know that if she would talk to him, he would understand and try to help her"
"I don't understand it. She gets along so well with Lupin, yet Sirius intimidates the hell out of her"
"A bit wierd that the werewolve is the one she's comfortable with, but there it is"
"How do we help her? I don't want her to be unhappy"
"I don't know Harry," Oliver said. "I don't know."
Lucy would never get used to the fact that her best friend was a metamorphmagus. Every time Tonks came over she had an entirely new appearance. Today her face was round and she had a button nose. Her hair was short and neon blue. There were a lot of things about being a witch that she had yet to get used to. Apparating for one. She still jumped about two feet whenever someone apparated into a room next to her. Sirius had been telling her she should learn how to do it, but she was in no hurry to do so. She had side along apparated with Oliver once, and the shock of it had made her so ill that she'd had to sit with her head between her knees for an hour just to keep the room from spinning. But being a witch had given her so much. She had a home, a family, friends, and a man she loved. Now if she could just get a handle on her powers, everything would be just perfect.
"I'm not sure blue is my color," Tonks said studying herself in Lucy's mirror.
"Then why do you keep making your hair blue?" Lucy asked from where she sat sprawled over her bed.
"Because it's Bill favorite color," Tonks said letting her short cropped hair grow out past her shoulders.
"That doesn't mean you've got to make your hair that color," Lucy pointed out.
"Maybe," Tonks said plopping down on the bed. "Have I told you that I love what you've done with your room?" Lucy grinned. She'd decorated her room entirely by hand, the Muggle way. Harry had offered to give her a magical assist, but she had wanted to do it herself. She was very happy with the way it had turned out. The whole room was done in plum and deep green. She'd chosen this room because of the large widow and window seat that allowed her to look out at London. When she wasn't down in her lab or spending time with Harry she enjoyed just sitting at her window gazing at London. She'd hung deep green drapes from the windows and placed several plum colored cushions on the golden wood seat. Against the wall was a large oak armoire and a plum colored easy chair sat in a corner. Her double bed was covered with a deep green comforter and several green throw pillows. On her nightstand was a lamp and two framed pictures, one of her mother, and another of her and Harry. The walls she had painted cream though not much of the walls were visible, for she had covered them with Oliver's newspaper clippings and the postcards he sent her whenever he traveled. A couple in love swayed under the Eiffel Tower, while another young man drank cappucino in an Italian piazza. So many places he'd been to and in every letter he told her that he wished she was with him
"So how did things go last night?" Lucy couldn't help laughing as Tonks's eyebrows danced up and down. Other than Harry, Tonks was the only person who knew that Oliver shared her bed whenever he stayed over.
"Sirius must have forgotten to put the locking charm on Oliver's door, because he got in here as easy as you please last night"
"So have you let him deflower you yet"
"Dora!" Lucy smacked her friend on the arm.
"May I take that as a yes"
"No," Lucy said emphatically. "We are not having sex"
"That's a shame," Tonks said with a small grin. "Because you know what they say about boys who play Quidditch"
"I will remind you my brother also plays Quidditch and ask that you not finish that statement"
"Fair point, I guess that would be kind of creepy."
"It's not that I don't want to," Lucy said. "But somehow making love with my brother and godfather just down the hall is just"
"Icky?" Tonks supplied.
"I was going to say uncomfortable, but icky works"
"Yeah, well you think you got it bad, try getting any action at the Burrow. Molly watched Bill and I so closely I swear she must have seven eyes"
"Why not go to your place"
"Cause Mum is worse than Molly and Sirius put together. I swear it's a wonder she didn't put a snogging prevention spell on me the day I was born"
"I don't think there is a spell to prevent snogging. If there was I'm sure that Sirius would have used it by now"
"Speaking of which, Sirius was surprisingly pleasant to Oliver last night. Maybe he's finally warming up to him"
"Maybe," Lucy said. She hadn't really been paying attention to much of the conversation last night. Her thoughts had been on other things.
"Is anything wrong Lucy?" Lucy sighed. She needed to hide her feelings better.
"Am I so obvious?" she asked.
"Dearie, it's practically written on your forehead. What's going on? You've been more quiet than usual lately." Lucy longed to confide in her best friend, but she was afraid. What would Tonks think if she knew that Lucy couldn't even form the simplest spells anymore?
"Luce, whatever it is you can tell me," Tonks said taking Lucy's hand. Lucy sighed and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"A witch's emotions can have a strong affect on her powers right?" Lucy finally said. Tonks looked at her surprised.
"Yes, of course. When one's emotions are under incredible strain it can affect their powers. I've heard that it's especially common after the death of a loved one. It's especially problematic when a wizard is young and has not yet learned how to control their powers. Why do you ask"
"My powers have been off lately," Lucy confessed. "I can't make my wand work, and my potions aren't turning out like they should"
"Have you told Harry or Sirius about this"
"No, only Oliver and now you"
"What did Oliver say"
"He thinks I've just lost confidence in myself because I'm not as powerful a witch as my mother was"
"Ahh," Tonks said. "Getting slightly sick of being told "You remind me so much of your mother. Between Sirius, Mum, Molly, Arthur, Dumbledore and oh yeah, Snape," the last one she said with a shudder, "I guess it is enough to drive a person slightly mental"
"It's not a bad thing," Lucy said. "I love that people see my mum in me. It makes me feel closer to her. But it's like they put me up on a pedestal and it really hurts to see myself fall off. I guess that's why I'm more comfortable around Remus than any of Mum's old friends, he's the only one that doesn't make me feel like I'm competing with a ghost."
"Maybe you should talk to Sirius," Tonks said. "Tell him what you just told me. He loves you Lucy, I can tell that he does. He thinks of you and Harry like his own kids"
"I can't talk to Sirius," Lucy said.
"Why not?" Tonks asked. "I know he's kind of scary lookin', and his hair's too long, and he's got the maturity of a two year old, but he's got some good qualities too"
"I don't have the same relationship with him that he has with Harry. Sirius was James's best friend, he was there when Harry was born. We don't even know each other"
"Harry hasn't known Sirius that much longer than you have," Tonks pointed out.
"But there's history there, and I don't begrudge Harry for what he has with Sirius, I just feel like there's no room for me except the part of me that's just like Lily"
"Oh sweetie," Tonks said wrapping her arms around her friend. They sat for awhile in silence. Tonks absently picked up Lucy's wand and fiddled with it. After a minute she looked at it closely.
"Lucy," Tonks said thoughtfully. "When did you start having problems with your wand"
"About a week ago, why?" Tonks didn't answer but stood up and rolled the wand between her hands.
"Have you ever left your wand unattended when you're out?" Lucy was confused. Why was Tonks asking her all these questions?
"I don't thinks so. I keep it in my pocket when I'm out, but when I'm around the house I don't keep it on me all the time. Dora, what are you babbling about?"
"The weight doesn't seem right. Not for ivory and unicorn hair." Tonks set Lucy's wand on the nightstand and pulled out her own wand.
"What are you doing?" Lucy said slightly alarmed.
"Trust me," Tonks said. She pointed her wand at Lucy's wand. "Disecto!" Lucy's wand split open and lay in two hallowed halves on the table.
"I thought so," Tonks said shoving her wand in her pocket. "Your wand's been tampered with. Someone's removed the unicorn hair, without that your wand's nothing but a stick." Lucy was stunned. That was why she hadn't been able to make her wand work. It wasn't her, someone was sabotaging her. But who could have done it? The only one's who would have had access to her wand were Harry and Sirius. Before she could think about it a sense of dread filled her.
"Something's coming," she said with absolute certainty. "Something bad!"