"What the hell, Flint?! You weren't supposed to go after her! You were supposed to attack that blasted Quidditch player!"he shouted as he apparated into the dark, dank room. It was a dark corner in the cellar of his ancestor's abandoned manor. While it wasn't particularly pleasant, it was remote and no one would connect Flint to it. It was the perfect hideout for him. That is if he hadn't completely fallen out of the good graces of his host. Currently he was seriously tempted to throttle him.
"He killed my girl. Thought it was only fair I go after his," Flint growled.
"Have you completely forgotten our arrangement? You get to have your revenge on Wood and I get the girl. I can't bloody well have her if she's dead," the man said, balling his fists up. Flint glared across the room at his cousin.
"Yea, yea, I remember. I wasn't going to kill her. Just wanted to scare her and Wood a bit. Let him know what it's like," he said. The other man rolled his eyes.
"By stabbing her? God, you are an idiot," he groaned.
"It wasn't deep," Flint countered.
"She's in St. Mungo's for the next two days," the other man shouted.
"What is it about this wench that has you and Wood all tied up? She's gorgeous, I'll give you that - probably good for a ride - but not sure why you're both so obsessed with her," Flint said. The man charged Flint and shoved him up against the wall. He had a good two inches on him and was just as burly.
"Never. Talk. About. Her. Like. That," he said menacingly, his crystal blue eyes flashing. "Of course you wouldn't understand just how special Iris Evans is." He gave Flint another shove and let him go, stepping away. "So, do you have something in mind for our next move or do I have to do all the work?" James said as he smoothed his hair. He turned and looked at Flint, who was massaging his shoulder.
"Still working on it. I'll owl you when I have something," he said, grimacing. James nodded.
"Don't take too long."
Iris looked up from her book as she heard a knock on the door. Once she had apologized profusely to George upon his return, he had agreed to stop by the flat and bring a few of her novels over as Oliver was still not talking to her. Iris couldn't help but feel anxious about the radio silence, but she hadn't had much time to think about it as a steady stream of visitors had been stopping by once word got out that she had calmed down. Molly and Oliver's mother had just left about 30 minutes prior, allowing Iris a bit of peace for the first time since lunch. It was nearly dinner time and she had assumed it was a healer coming by with something that was sure to taste horrible.
"Come in!" Iris called as she folded the page down at the corner to mark her spot. She set about readying herself and didn't look up as the door opened.
"Thought you'd might like something better than hospital food," she heard Oliver say. Iris looked up, eyes wide, to see him walking in holding up a plastic bag. The smell of curry was wafting from it, causing Iris' mouth to water.
"You're my hero," Iris nearly squealed as she held her hands out for it. Oliver smiled, tense, and walked over to the bed. He set the bag on the tray and set about to pulling containers out. Neither of them spoke, still remembering their fight from the night before. Iris took a deep breath.
"About last night-"
"I was being daft-"
They both stopped speaking and looked at each other. Iris smiled as tears pricked at her eyes. Oliver rubbed his hand across his face.
"I shouldn't have been so… forceful," Iris said finally. "I know how hard it's been for you with everything but, I want you to know that you have nothing to worry about. I'm not going to go rushing headfirst into something that could get me killed. I know what I'm doing. And I'll have a team with me. They will keep me safe. This isn't like before." He sat down in the chair and looked up at her.
"I know. That's exactly what Shacklebolt said this morning," he said. "I was there for nearly an hour trying to convince him not to let you do this and he went and convinced me it was the right move." Oliver smiled at her.
"I'm sorry about last night. It's just… I've lost you once. I couldn't survive losing you again," he said. Iris started to speak but he put his hand up, signaling that he wasn't done. "But… I also know this is something you feel like you have to do and I promised you that I wouldn't stand in your way or hold you back."
"So… you're okay with me joining the aurors? To track down Flint?" Iris asked softly.
"Part of me will never be okay with it, but I won't stop you. Shacklebolt assured me that they've gotten the best aurors together working with you. And…," he paused and laughed softly, "Percy, George and Harry gave me a pretty good tongue-lashing and reminded me just how brilliant you are when it comes to magic." Iris laughed.
"I am quite good," she said. "It's not like before… not like then. I can control it now," she said.
"I know. You'll be fine," he said. Iris grinned as he stood and walked over to her, kissing her gently.
"I love you, Oliver William Wood," she said.
"And I love you, Iris Rose Evans. Even if you're as stubborn as a mule," he said. Iris laughed loudly and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"As I recall, you can be quite stubborn yourself," she said.
"Enough talk," Oliver replied before kissing her again.
They were interrupted by someone clearing their throat by the door. Oliver turned around as Iris leaned over to look passed him.
"James!" she said, grinning.
"I see you two have made up," he said with smile.
"That we have," Oliver said, walking over to shake his hand.
"You're just in time for dinner," Iris said excitedly. Oliver returned to getting the food out of the bag and such.
"We've got enough if you haven't eaten yet," Oliver said, looking over at him.
"I'm fine. Just stopped by to check in on our patient here," he said, smiling. Iris quickly grabbed the opened container and spoon that Oliver held out for her. She took a bite and moaned.
"So much better now that I'm having something edible," she said, her mouth still full. "Seriously, how can anyone here stand that horrible mush they feed you?" Oliver laughed and shook his head as he sat down in the chair and dug into his own. James walked closer to the bed.
"Please tell me you've managed to talk her out of it," he said, looking at Oliver. Iris rolled her eyes.
"Actually… I'm not going to stop her," Oliver replied. James' eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Really?" he asked. Oliver nodded.
"She really is quite brilliant with all her gifts. If anyone is going to catch that prat, it's Iris," he said, gazing in pride at Iris, who was shoveling rice and curry into her mouth. "Present circumstances aside," he continued, laughing. Iris chewed a bit and managed to stick her tongue out at him. James chuckled.
"So, when are they setting you free, Poppy?" he asked, settling on the end of her bed.
"Tomorrow morning," she said.
"And then it's bedrest for the rest of the week," Oliver said. Iris glared at him, giving him a look that pointedly said "I know."
"And then you start on at the Ministry?" James asked. Iris nodded.
"Harry and few others are planning to come by every day until then to fill me in on what's going on," Iris said after swallowing. "Obviously I won't be going out in the field at first, but I heal rather quickly."
"Just don't push yourself too hard," Oliver warned gently.
"Yes, Mother," Iris said, rolling her eyes. James laughed and stood.
"Well, I can see you're in better spirits and good hands. I'll be off then," he said. He waved at the two and walked out.
"You know, he's not such a bad bloke once you get to know him," Oliver said. Iris looked over at him.
"Told you," she said.
"I still think he fancies you." Iris rolled her eyes. "What? He brought you flowers."
"As did George and Percy. You think they fancy me as well?" she retorted.
"That's different. They're just friends. Brothers almost," he said. Iris stopped eating and looked at him, an eyebrow arched.
"It's the same thing, Oliver," she said. Oliver met her gaze.
"Fine. Believe that if you will. As long as he watches himself, I've no problem with him," he said going back to his food. Iris snorted and shook her head.
"Men," she muttered.
The next afternoon Iris was situated on the sofa with Oliver hovering nearby.
"I swear, I'm fine!" she said in frustration. He had just plumped her pillow for the 20th time and propped her feet up under another one, then asked if she wanted something to drink. "It doesn't even hurt!"
"I just want to make sure you're comfortable," he said. Iris shook her head.
"I am. Harry and the others'll be here any minute," she said. Some of the team were coming by for Iris' first briefing.
"I know, I know," Oliver said walking over to the kitchen. As if on cue, the fireplace flared green and one after another, Harry, Jude, Dean, Ron and Neville all popped out. Iris still couldn't get over how young most of the aurors were. But she supposed that after the war, they had to go young. She was shocked to discover that even Jude was her age. His terse and professional demeanor made him seem much older.
"Iris," Jude said with a nod. He stepped over and sat in the arm chair next to the sofa as the other four walked over and grabbed chairs from the table and moved them to in front of the sofa. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Much better now that I'm out of St. Mungo's," she said. "Where are you on tracking Flint?" Jude studied her a moment before answering.
"So far we're about where we were yesterday. Still no trace of him. But he must have someone helping him, so we're looking into his known, remaining family and friends," Jude answered.
"Most of his friends were Death Eaters and are now in Azkaban," Harry interjected. "But he's got some distant family that never officially joined that might offer help."
"His mum hasn't been very helpful," Ron admitted.
"What about his girlfriend's family?" Iris suggested. "They'd probably be open to helping him. Probably want revenge just as much as he does." Jude thought a moment, then further studied Iris.
"Good idea," he said. He looked over at the four other aurors. "Neville, Dean, look into the Greengrasses and see if they've had any sort of contact with Flint since the end of the war." The two nodded and stood, moving their chairs back to the table, then disappearing through the fireplace. Jude stood and looked around the living room.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go around and reinforce the protection wards," he said.
"We put up extra ones when I got back from hospital this morning, but help yourself," Iris said. Jude nodded and walked away, starting at the windows. He held his wand out and started slowly walking down them. He stopped halfway through and looked over at Iris.
"You did these yourself?" he asked. Iris nodded. "Impressive." He then returned to his work. It took about 10 minutes for him to go around the entire flat, checking the wards that were in place and adding a few of his own on top of them.
"That should do," he said, returning to the living room. "I'll send Potter and Weasley over to check in with you tomorrow. Good day, Iris." He then turned and disappeared through the fireplace. Harry and Ron stood, moving their chairs back.
"He likes you," Ron said as they walked back. Iris chuckled.
"How can you tell? He's almost like a robot," Iris said.
"He's never impressed," Harry answered. "Better watch it. He may join Shacklebolt in his efforts to get you at the Ministry full time." Iris rolled her eyes.
"No. I told them it was only this once. Then I'm back to helping out at the shop," she said.
"And thank Merlin for that," Oliver said, walking into the living room. He walked over and picked up Iris' feet, then sat down, setting them in his lap.
"Shouldn't you be training? Your first match is only a few months away," she said.
"I took the rest of the week off to look after you," he said.
"Of course you did," Iris said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Who else would take care of you?" he retorted.
"Myself, maybe?" she ventured. Harry laughed as Ron rolled his eyes.
"They're so… cheesy," he groaned. "How can you live here with them?" he asked Harry.
"You get used to it after awhile," Harry replied. He turned to Iris. "Well, we're off. I'll fill you in on the search when I get in tonight." Iris nodded.
"Be safe you two," she said. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"But there's not much you wouldn't do," Harry joked. Iris sat up and threw a pillow at him.
"Get to work!" she ordered. Still laughing, Harry and Ron disappeared through the fireplace.
"Looks like it's just us," Oliver said, looking down at Iris.
"Yes, and I feel like taking a nap," she said, settling down on the sofa.
"Is my company that boring?" Oliver joked.
"No, just the damn pain potion they gave me has kicked in and I can barely keep my eyes open," she said, yawning.
"Ah, so that's why it's not hurting. Get some rest, Iris," Oliver said. When he didn't hear her respond, he peered over her, finding her completely out, her mouth slightly open and she breathed in and out. Shaking his head he waved his wand and a blanket flew over, gently arranging itself over. He took a deep breath and watched her, thinking he would do whatever he could to keep her safe.