Chapter 26
Meredith could think of at least a dozen things she would rather be doing right now, than sit here in the stands ready to watch the first Quidditch game Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. She had two rolls of parchment for Snape, two chapters to read for McGonagall, four pages of translations for Vector, a twelve inch essay on Hinkypunks, twelve inches for Sprout, and she needed to work on her Locomotor charm for Flitwick. But it was Oliver's first game and she wanted to be here to support him, even though she found the game of Quidditch a waste of time.
"Oh Mere," Patricia said. "Isn't this exciting. I can't wait to see Oliver play." Meredith shook her head. Her best friend clearly did not share her view.
"Budge along there, budge along," Hagrid said as he joined them.
"Hello Hagrid," Meredith greeted the large man.
"Hello Meredith, Patricia, Percy. Looking forward to seeing Oliver play?"
"Yes, very," Patricia said eagerly. Meredith could only nod slightly. She watched as the Gryffindor players flew out onto the pitch amidst cheers from the Gryffindors around her and boos's from the Ravenclaws on the other side.
"Here they are," the announcer, a Hufflepuff named Rupert Partridge said. "Ackerly, Bergen, Dandridge, Graham, Mawbry, Robbins, aaaaaaaannd Wood!"
"Yay!!" Meredith and Patricia shouted as Oliver's name was called. Oliver shot them a grin and waved. The two team captains shook hands and the quaffle was put into play. Meredith watched half-heartedly as the quaffle was passed between the Gryffindor chasers. She watched Oliver as he flew back and forth around the goal posts. She winced as she saw a Ravenclaw beater whack a bludger toward Stewart Graham, a second year, and knock him for a spin.
"Oh those bludgers are so awful," Meredith said. Patricia nodded grimly.
"Oh no!" Meredith shouted as a bludger was pelted at Oliver and smacked into his head.
"Oliver!" Patricia screamed as an unconscious Oliver fell from his broom and landed on the ground with a sickening 'thud'!
Meredith, Patricia and Percy stood huddled outside the doorway of the hospital wing awaiting word on Oliver.
"He's been in there a long time," Percy said nervously biting his nails.
"I hope he's all right," Patricia sniffed. Meredith didn't say anything. She was still in shock at seeing her friend knocked off his broom.
He must have fallen at least fifteen feet, she thought with a shudder. The door opened and Madam Pomfrey ushered them in. Oliver lay on the bed, his eyes closed, with a large bandage wrapped around his head.
"Oh Oliver," Meredith whispered sinking into the chair beside his bed. She had never seen her friend look so small.
"Will he be all right Madam Pomfrey?" Percy asked. Madam Pomfrey tutted sharply.
"Difficult to say. He took a nasty blow to the head. I have done all I can do for him. There is no way to know when he will wake up." Meredith swallowed a sob.
Two weeks had gone by and there was no change. Much of their spare time was spent sitting with Oliver in the hospital wing. They would bring their homework and study around his bed.
"What if he never wakes up," Patricia said as she held Oliver's hand.
"He will," Meredith said placing fresh flowers in the vase by Oliver's bed. "He has to."
"Madam Pomfrey said we should try talking to him," Percy said. "That he can hear us." Meredith wasn't sure if this was true or not, but she figured it couldn't hurt. She took a seat at Oliver's side and took his hand.
"Hey Oliver," she said softly. "It's time for you to wake up. You've been sleeping for two weeks. You're gonna be so behind in your classes." She stared at Oliver's peaceful face. She reached up and stroked his hair.
"C'mon Oliver," she said. "You really need to wake up. Christmas will be here soon. You don't want to sleep through Christmas. We have another Hogsmeade coming up soon. We don't want to go without you. Oh, and Clarice is going to replace you on the team if you don't wake up. I think Tommy Walsh is gonna take your place." They heard a soft groan come from the bed.
"That….stupid…blighter…" They all stared down at Oliver who was blinking.
"Oh Merlin," Patricia said seizing Oliver's hand. "OLIVER!"
"I'll get Madam Pomfrey," Percy said jumping up.
"Oliver," Meredith said touching his face. "Are you awake?" She stared at him as his eyes fluttered open. He stared at her glassy-eyed and then he seemed to focus.
"Tommy Walsh," Oliver said seizing her hand. "Please tell me Tommy Walsh isn't playing Keeper." Meredith could do nothing but laugh hysterically.
Hogsmeade was so beautiful at Christmastime. Meredith felt like she had stepped inside one of those little snow globes that muggles collected. The snow was falling in big heavy flakes and coating the roofs and ground like frosting on a cake. Candles and wreaths hung from every door and window.
"It's beautiful," Patricia said beside as they walked through the snow.
"I'm freezing," Oliver said rubbing his gloved hands together.
"Why didn't you bring your hat?" Meredith asked, pulling her own hat more snugly over her ears. Oliver scowled, and Percy shifted his feet uncomfortably.
"What are we missing?" Patricia asked. Oliver shot Percy a dirty look.
"Percy?"
"Well, um…there was an incident…"
"SCABBERS ATE MY HAT!" Oliver burst out.
"He just chewed a hole in it."
"A hole the size of a snitch," Oliver grumbled.
"I offered to mend it for you," Percy said.
"You're stupid rat ate my hat!"
"We'll get you a new hat," Meredith said stepping between the two boys. "We'll go to Gladrags right now. There's a pair of gloves I want to get my dad for Christmas anyway." The boys continued to grumble as they made their way to Gladrags but by the time they were done there and were on their way to Dervish and Banges they had come to an awkward truce, and by the time they entered Honeydukes they were laughing. They filled their bags with all the candy they could and then decided to head to Zonko's. Like the other stores the items on the shelves carried a yuletide flavor. There were peppermint sticks that turned your teeth black, Christmas candles that would not blow out, even a Christmas tree with branches that moved when you tried to put an ornament on them.
"I think I'll get a box of these sticks for Fred and George," Percy said. "All the pranks they've pulled on me over the years, it'll be nice to get a little payback." They wondered around the shop for a while till it was time for lunch.
"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks," Patricia said. "I'm starving." They paid for their purchases and started for the door. Meredith was following her friends when all of a sudden she found herself unable to move.
"What the bloody hell," she said trying to pick up her foot. It wouldn't budge. It was as though her feet were glued to the floor. She tried to call out to her friends but they had left the store.
"Okay," Meredith said to herself. "Don't panic. They'll realize you're not with them in a minute and come back for you. Just stay calm." She stood calmly with her hands folded in front of her. She nodded to several Hogwarts students that came in, none of them found it peculiar that Meredith was standing in one place, unmoving.
"Oh where are those three?" she muttered. This was getting annoying. Her legs were starting to hurt and she needed to pee quite badly. She tried to lift her foot again to no avail.
"Dammit," she said. "Bloody move would you!"
"Having trouble miss?" The tall blonde shopkeeper asked as he noticed her flailing arms.
"I'm stuck," she said. "My feet won't move." The shopkeeper looked at her and laughed.
"Well that's why, miss," he said pointing to the ceiling. Meredith looked up and saw what looked like mistletoe above her head.
"Mistletoe?" she said giving the shopkeeper and incredulous look.
"Enchanted," he said. "Makes the person who stands under it unable to move, until they receive a kiss. You're the fourth person who's gotten stuck today."
"Well that's just great," Meredith said throwing up her hands as the shopkeeper moved off to help a customer. She looked at her watch. She'd now been standing her for forty-five minutes. Where were Patricia, Oliver, and Percy? Had they even noticed that she hadn't followed them to the pub? They were some friends. She tried bending her knees to get the blood flowing, but that only made the pain in her bladder worse.
"Meredith?" Meredith felt her face get hot. Bill Weasley stood in front of her. What a position for him to find her in. She swallowed her humiliation and smiled.
"Hello Bill, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Bill said giving her an amused smiled. "You seem to be in a little trouble."
"No, not at all," Meredith said trying not to squirm.
"Uh huh," Bill said crossing his arms.
"Really," Meredith said. "I'm quite all right. Well, I'm sure you need to get on with your Christmas shopping. So it was nice talking to you." Go away, she thought, please go away.
"After you," Bill said guesturing with his hand. Meredith gave a sheepish smile.
"Um…I'm stuck?" she said weakly.
"I know," Bill said. "I've been watching you for the last ten minutes. How'd you get stuck?" Meredith blushed even harder and pointed to the ceiling.
"Hmm," Bill said. "Enchanted Mistletoe I take it?"
"Mm hmm," Meredith said burying her face in her hands. Bill patted her shoulder.
"Fred and George have some. Auntie Muriel got trapped under it last Christmas. Poor old dear stood there for six hours before Mum made George kiss her." Meredith's eyes widened.
"Six hours," Meredith squeaked. Bill smiled.
"I think I can spare you that though." And with that he leaned down and kissed her softly on the cheek. Meredith's face was on fire and her cheek was tingling where his lips touched her.
"Try to lift your feet," Bill said.
"Huh?" Meredith said her head a little swimmy. "Oh, uh, right." She attempted once again to lift her feet and found to her relief that the enchantment had been broken.
"Thanks," she said with a grin."
"No problem," Bill said patting her shoulder. "Just like old times, pulling you out of a jam. Well, see ya." Meredith's heart sank a little as Bill wondered away. She sighed. She really need to get over this crush she had on Bill. A tightening in her nether regions reminded her that she had something she needed to take care of. She hurried out of Zonko's and dashed across the street to the Three Broomsticks, barely making it to the girl's bathroom in time. Once that was taken care of she went out into the pub and spotted her friends sitting at a table and went to join them.
"There you are!" Patricia exclaimed. "What happened to you?"
"Don't ask," Meredith said grumpily setting her fist on her hand. Her mood did not improve the rest of the day and only darkened further when they walked past Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and spotted Bill going inside with a tall blonde with an impressive physique.
"Quit torturing yourself," Meredith told herself. "You're his little brother's friend. That's all you'll ever be to him."