New Beginnings 3

AN: I am glad that you are enjoying my story so far. Thanks for all the help that I have gotten so far. Snarky

Two days later, Hermione was doing some light reading with a book on charms in the Gryffindor Common Room. She was sitting at a table near the corner by the window, which she had cracked slightly for some fresh air. She observed Oliver playing Wizarding Chess with Percy two tables over. The book was just lying on the table. She hadn't turned a page in the last ten minutes since her thoughts had steered her towards Oliver and his movements since her near breakdown on the pitch.

Every time she saw him, he was either in the Library reading or in their common room whispering to Percy. She had a feeling it was about her, because she could have sworn she heard her name floating across the room. It was driving her mad that she could not hear what was being said exactly. Hermione was starting to have second thoughts about going to school at Hogwarts, even though she loved doing practical aspect of magic. It seemed to her that her peers don't seem to appreciate the special gifts that they are given and they tease her for wanting to excel in the classroom. When she thought about how much she missed her parents, Hermione had to close her eyes to prevent the tears from showing her weakness. She slowly took a deep breath and thought, I can do this.

Hermione glanced up to look at the Fifth years and saw that Percy was looking in her direction and followed by what sounded like her name. Hermione grew even more upset. She felt like that they were mocking her and talking behind her back, just like her fellow classmates. She thought they would be past that stage being as students four years her senior. Hermione slammed the book closed and held it close to her chest as she darted towards the door. She felt grateful that the portrait opened just as she approached it.

"OY, HERMIONE!" Ron yelled out as she bumped into his shoulder as she clambered through.

Oliver's head popped up at Ron's exclamation, only to see her hair fly out of the door.

"Dògan!"* Oliver jumped out of his seat to chase after Hermione.

"OLIVER! LANGUAGE!" Percy yelled out to his retreating roommate, who flicked him off.

Oliver flew out the door and halted in his tracks; he couldn't see which way she went. Oliver shook his head as he walked back into the common room and plopped down in a seat next to the twins only to mutter, "Where are you, wee Hermione?"

"She went to the Library," blurted out George.

Oliver's head shot up and saw that he sat next to his beaters, Fred and George. "What did you say?"

"You asked about Hermione, right?"

Oliver dipped his head.

"She went to the Library. I've heard rumors that she in there every day."

"Really?"

George and Fred both nodded as they finished up folding an old piece of parchment paper.

"Okay! Thank you!" Oliver threw out as he ran out of the portrait.

"Will you make up your mind, young man?" yelled the Fat Lady.

"Sorry, ma'am!"

When Oliver got close to the Library, he stopped just outside of the doors to catch his breath. He took a slow, cleansing breath, knowing that his conversation with Hermione wasn't going to be easy. He quietly walked into the room and heard faint noises towards the back of the room; he walked in the direction of the raised voices and started to slowly recognize the voices of Hermione along with Professor McGonagall, their Head of House and Madam Pince, the Librarian. The two adults were trying to get Hermione to leave the Library so Madam Pince could close it for the evening, but Oliver was surprised to hear her pleading to stay there longer. She sounded more upset than he originally thought.

"Miss Granger, if you don't leave within the next few minutes, I will have to give you a deduction of points," said Professor McGonagall.

Oliver rounded the corner to see Hermione sitting at a table in the far back with Professor McGonagall sitting next to her and Madam Pince standing across from her.

"See, Professor! She has been like this ever since she ran in here ten minutes ago."

"Hush, Madam Pince. Why don't you finish up your closing routine?" Professor McGonagall looked up at the Librarian. She caught Oliver in her corner of her eye. "MISTER WOOD! What are you doing here?"

Madam Pince spun around at the sound of Oliver's name. "What are you doing here? Causing trouble?"

Oliver threw up his hands, "No ma'am! I was hoping to talk to Hermione for a few minutes." He gave a pleading look to his professor.

She smiled softly when she realized that Oliver was hoping to comfort Hermione. "Madam Pince?"

Irma turned to look at Minerva. "Yes?"

"Are you done with everything other than the lock up part?"

Madam Pince bobbed her head.

"Okay. You can leave the Library. I am going to allow this conversation, because I can see that it is important to Oliver. I will wait for them and lock it up for you. Okay?"

Madam Pince huffed, "Fine!" She spun around and stormed out of the Library.

Professor McGonagall looked down at Hermione to see her looking at her with slight fear. "Now, now Hermione, everything will be fine. Oliver isn't going to harm you in any way. I know that he is trying to help you with the flying class. I would have made him a Prefect if it wasn't for the fact that his roommate was on top of his class." She saw that her student visibly calmed down. "Please talk to him." Hermione nodded slowly in understanding. "Good! I am going to the front of the Library to give you some space. Come out when you are finished. Don't be too long, okay, Oliver?" Professor McGonagall got up and walked around the table to head and gave Oliver a squeeze on the arm for luck.

"Sure, Professor. No problem," replied Oliver as he watched her go around the corner.

He turned around to see Hermione look at him warily. "Oh me lass." Oliver came around the table and took the same chair the professor sat but he turned it to face her more. "Please Hermione, can you turn the chair so we can talk face to face?" Hermione slowly shifted the chair to face him.

"Listen Hermione, I bet you think that we were talking about you, right?"

"Yes."

"Well we were, but not the way you think we were." Oliver rushed to get out before Hermione decided to cry again.

"What do you mean?"

"Hermione, Percy was trying to get me to go talk to you in the common room, but I didn't want to do this conversation with all those people there. I respect your privacy too much."

"Oh. Thank you, I guess and the Professor?"

"Aw well. I was having a meeting with her about Quidditch and how awesome Harry is to the team!"

Hermione's face turned bright red in anger.

Oliver threw up his hands in his defense. "I know that you don't think he shouldn't be on the team after breaking the teacher's rule but think about this, Hermione. He was trying to help someone, who wasn't there to retrieve the ball for himself."

Hermione paused her objection to think about what Oliver said. Hermione slumped when she realized that he was right in the long run. "And you still haven't explained the professor knowing yet."

"Oh well," Oliver started scratching his neck. "I, um, end up helping someone pass their flying class every year. She was asking who I was helping this year. I just told her that it was you. She seemed genuinely concerned that her bright first year was struggling."

Hermione's face lit up at Oliver's explanation. "Really? She was concerned?" Oliver nodded his head. "WOW! Someone likes me!"

"OY! I like you!"

"You do?" Hermione looked at him puzzled.

Oliver blushed. "Yes, and I know Percy keeps an eye out for you. He hopes that you are fitting in okay."

Hermione snorted. "Fat chance of that happening. Everyone in my class teases about my wanting to learn everything about magic."

Oliver leaned over and squeezed her grasped hands for comfort. "Oh wee lass, I realize that it is tough to be in a new school. Especially when there isn't an easy way to contact your parents, which I assume that you miss, right?" Hermione dipped her head. "I will let you in a little secret that only Percy knows." Oliver leaned in to whisper into her ear, "I was lonely and wanted my parents for the first two months." Oliver leaned back to catch her reaction, which was one of surprise. "Yeah, it took until Halloween to finally feel a bit comfortable here. Please give yourself some time to adjust."

Hermione applied pressure to his hands showing him that she understood his last comment and the subtle one of allowing others in.

"Okay, wee lass, are you okay to continue with what I really wanted to talk to you about?"

"Sure, Oliver."

"I want to talk about your fear of the broom or more likely the thinness of it." Hermione froze a bit. "Please I am not trying to frighten you but this is critical issue for you. If you want to pass the course, you need to get past this fear before we can even conquer the height fear."

Hermione took a slow deep breath when she realized that he was right on both points. She gave him a slight look of trepidation. "Ok. What can I do to get past this fear?"

"First, I am going to explain what I have been doing since we last talked. I have been doing research of the psychological aspects of fear, and I read that these fears are mostly based on something that happened in the past." Hermione froze. "I know that you are going to be afraid to talk about it, but you need to get it out. Have you talked to anyone about this fear?" Hermione shook her head. "All the more reason to tell me. I solemnly swear that I am not going to tell anyone your fear unless you want them to know."

Hermione let her body relax when she saw the truth in his eyes. She also realized that he was genuine in his sincerity. She puffed out a short breath and decided to give him some trust.

"Listen, Oliver, I am going to give a sliver of my trust to you. I don't trust kids easily. I usually trust adults."

"Do you want me to call Professor McGonagall back?"

"No, don't. I need to start with someone, and that someone is going to be you. Please don't blow it. All I ask if you ask for my permission to talk to someone else about it first. I am giving you permission to talk to Percy and the professor now."

"Okay Hermione. Just let me know when you are ready to talk."

Hermione appreciated the fact that he didn't rush her. She had a feeling that their Head of House was listening in, but she didn't care. She closed her eyes to help center herself and thought back to that fateful day two years ago. She opened her eyes and stared at Oliver before giving him a slight tug on his hand. She wanted to hold it in her lap.

"Do you want to sit closer? Move the chairs side by side? Would you like me to hold you as you talk?"

Hermione looked up into his brown eyes and saw the concern he had for her. "Can we?"

Oliver quickly got up to move her chair back towards the table and scooted his next to hers. He sat back down and opened his right arm up to allow her to snuggle into his side. She grabbed his other hand and twisted their fingers together. "Is this better?" He felt her head move on his shoulder. "Excellent. Start whenever you are ready."

Hermione snuggled into Oliver a bit more while she composed her thoughts. She took a deep breath and breathed in his wonderful scent. "OOO, you smell wonderful. I love the smell of Highland Heather."

"Oh, you do?" Hermione rubbed her face into his chest. "Well I did fly amongst it this morning."

Hermione's head popped up and looked at him with slight wonder. "You did? Where? I haven't seen any."

"Oh there is a patch behind the pitch. I will show it to you after breakfast in the morning, okay?" Hermione beamed. "Great, now stop changing the subject." Hermione's smile slipped off her face. "Sorry, wee lass, but we need to do this. You will feel better after you get it off your chest."

Hermione sighed as she laid her head back down on his warm chest. "Yeah I guess so. Just give me a couple more minutes." Oliver's chin had grazed the top of her head to show that he understood. Hermione loved the fact that he was patient with her and didn't rush her. Hermione breathed in his heady scent one last time to calm her nerves.

"Okay Oliver, I am going to tell you a story of something that happened to me two years ago. Do you know what an airplane is?"

"Yes, I do. I took Muggle Studies with Percy third year."

"Okay well, I was on one flying home to England from a family vacation in France. We were visiting grand-mere. We hit some turbulence in the midst of a bad storm and I thought for sure that we were going to crash. The pilot was able to stop the plane from shaking and landed in Paris to allow the storm pass."

"Oh Hermione, that must of terrified you. What did it make you feel?"

"I felt a bit lost with the lack of control of the plane. It took my parents two hours to convince me to get back on a plane to finish the flight home."

Oliver pulled Hermione close to his chest. "Take a deep breath and let it out. Don't be afraid to cry around me."

Hermione sobbed into his shoulder. She felt protected by him and took a slow deep breath to take in his calming scent of the heather.

"Can I tell you something?" Hermione mumbled something. "What was that, wee lass?"

"Sure." Hermione shifted her face so her mouth was uncovered.

"You won't feel that lack of control when you are on the broom."

"WHAT?!" Hermione sat up and looked at him wide-eyed.

"You heard me correctly, Hermione. You have complete control of the broom, unless you let it rule you. I am going to make you own that broom, starting tomorrow morning after breakfast."

"It senses fear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"That would explain Neville's flying accident and why it didn't want to come up for me."

"Aye, I heard about that fateful flying class." Oliver threw up his hands as she glared at him. "Whoa there, Hermione, everyone heard about the catch by Harry." Hermione dropped once again against his strong chest. "We are going to start tomorrow morning to rule the broom. It might take a couple of days to master it, so don't feel so down if you don't get it right away."

"Okay."

"I think I hear Professor McGonagall coming to check on us. Are you ready to go back to the common room?" Oliver acknowledged Minerva as she rounded the corner.

"Yeah, I think so. Can we stop at the girl's room on the way?" Hermione gave Minerva a pleading look. The professor just smiled. "Great. My face feels hot and I just want to splash some cool water on it." Hermione and Oliver rose to their feet and walked around the table.

"That is fine, Miss Granger. Are you okay?" Hermione gave her a wisp of a smirk. "Good! Mister Wood, were you able to cover everything for now?"

"Yes ma'am! We are going to go to the pitch to slowly conquer her fears."

"Very good, Mister Wood. Could you see if Percy could go with you just in case of an emergency? Would that be alright with you, Hermione?"

"That is fine with me, Professor McGonagall. Oliver offered to show me the Highland Heather too." Hermione beamed at Oliver.

"OY, Hermione, don't forget your book!" Oliver grabbed the heavy advanced Charms book.
"Charms?"

"Yeah, I am really liking the course, along with Transfiguration."

"Cool, isn't it, Professor?"

"Yes, it is, Mister Wood!" Minerva was jumping for joy on the inside; she was glad to see that Hermione might have a friend or two after all.

"Let's go!" Minerva marched them out of the Library and stopped long enough to lock it per Irma's instructions. The three of them slowly walked towards the seventh floor, lost in their own thoughts.

*Dògan means Oh Bugger, Shite or Fuck. Take your pick. :D