Chapter Seven-Do you believe in "happily ever after"?

After eating lunch, Oliver and Landon met up with Andy. Then Oliver led them over to the Ravenclaw table where he motioned for Allyson to follow. She nodded and got up from her table, following them silently.

As they left the Great Hall, Landon couldn't help but ask, "Why is Rosendale coming with us?"

"Well, she wants to meet you and help us find a way for me to get Alex back," Oliver responded, "There's not a problem with that, is there? I mean, she's really nice once you get to know her."

In response, Landon turned around and beckoned for Allyson to come walk with them. She grinned and hurried to join them.

"Allyson, this is Landon and this is Andy," said Oliver, introducing them.

"Hi," replied Allyson softly.

"Hey, welcome to the 'gang'," said Andy as she put an arm around Allyson.

"Yeah, so how can you help us?" asked Landon with a smile.

"Um, well, I'm not sure yet. Do you guys have any ideas?" Allyson replied.

"Hmm, not really. But, we do need to convince Alex that Wood wants to talk to her or something like that," suggested Andy.

"Well, do you have a place where only you meet so that they wouldn't be interrupted?" inquired Allyson.

"Er, yeah, but if we take you there you have to swear not to reveal its location," said Oliver.

"Of course, but I don't really need to go there right now. I just needed to know. Ok, what I think you should do is tell Alex that you want to meet her in your "unknown" spot at a certain time but instead of you two it'll be Oliver, er Wood. Sound good?" she asked, addressing Landon and Andy.

"Yeah, I think so, but what happens when she sees Wood? She'll know that we kind of tricked her. Oh well, she'll get over it," replied Andy as Landon nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, Wood will just have to convince her that he's there for a good reason," Allyson said smiling.

"Oh yeah, no pressure on me!" Oliver retorted.

"Well, you're the one who got yourself into this mess in the first place. Duh!" Andy retorted back.

"Ok, ok, I'm guilty on that one!" replied Oliver sheepishly.

"Hey guys, keep it down, there's Alex," whispered Landon.

Alex was walking by them on her way to the bathroom. She ducked her head as she passed by.

"I can't believe it! He's got Landon and Andy and that whore with him! He really is acting as if I don't exist. I'm sorry that you feel that way, Wood. Oh well, guess I'll just have to make new friends," Alex said under her breath. She stole a glance in their direction; they were laughing. 'He made them laugh. My own friends are with him, laughing,' thought Alex as she brushed a tear from her cheek.

Andy watched Alex out of the corner of her eye. It looked like Alex was crying. Andy turned back to the rest. "The sooner you make up with her the better," she told Oliver.

That night at supper, Andy sat next to Alex who remained silent through the entire meal. Finally, Andy turned to Alex. "Hey, Landon and I are going to Dead Man's Dungeon tonight around eight. Wanna come?" she asked.

"I don't know. Why should I?" retorted Alex.

"Cause we need to talk about some things. You need to come down there cause I can sense that we aren't the best of friends anymore and we need to work that out, kay? Please come," begged Andy.

"I'll think about it," Alex said as she got up from the table.

Andy sighed and got up to go find Landon. As she passed the rest of the Slytherins, a voice stopped her.

"Hey, Andy, looking good! What are you doing tonight?"

Andy turned around; the voice belonged to Marcus Flint.

"I'm sleeping with my boyfriend, now don't push it, Flint!" Andy said sarcastically as she kept walking.

Andy found Landon and Oliver and told them that Alex was probably going to meet them there. Oliver looked at his watch; it was almost seven thirty. Oliver nodded and headed to the dungeon to figure out what he was going to say before Alex got there.

Up in her room, Alex was contemplating whether she should go or not. She wanted to make sure that she still had her friends. But did she really feel like going?

"Yeah, I'll go," she said aloud. She looked at the clock, seven forty-eight. She stood up from her chair and went downstairs. She didn't see Andy in the common room so she figured that she had already gone. She left the Slytherin dorms and made her way to Dead Man's Dungeon. As she entered, she noticed that the torches weren't lit.

'Strange,' she thought 'I guess Andy and Landon aren't here yet.'

She lit the torches and gasped in surprise when she saw Oliver sitting in one of the chairs.

"Oh I'm sorry, I think I'm at the wrong place. Oh wait, are you even acknowledging me? No you're not, are you? I'll just be on my way then," she said softly yet harshly.

Oliver jumped up and caught her arm before she could leave.

"Please sit down," he said, "I need to talk to you."

Alex stared at him as she slowly sat down across from him.

Oliver took a deep breath. "Let me start off by saying that I'm sorry. I know that it might not sound like much but those words carry a lot of meaning. For me, they're saying not only 'I'm sorry' but 'I know what I did was wrong' and 'you were so right' and 'I still love you so much' and especially 'can you ever forgive me'. Allyson was playing me but that's all over now and we're friends. Landon and Andy have forgiven me too and I know that it's asking a lot, but will you take me back? I love you so much, Alex, more than I've ever loved you," Oliver said imploringly.

Alex's eyes welled up with tears. "I don't know. I still love you but will I be able to keep you? I don't know, Wood, are you worth it?" she answered sadly.

"I promise that as long as we're together, I won't ever be tempted again. You know, I'm starting to sound like a sob story but who cares! Please give me another chance," begged Oliver.

Alex smiled faintly as she stood up. "I still don't know. I'll have to think about it for awhile. Bye, Wood," she said as she turned once more to leave.

'She can't leave, not now,' he thought. Oliver grabbed her arm and turned her around. He searched her eyes until he found his answer. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. Alex kissed him back as she wrapped her arms around him.

Andy, Landon and Allyson were waiting outside the dungeon.

"Well, I don't hear yelling or arguing, so maybe they're getting along," suggested Landon.

"Of course they are, Alex will understand. She'll be nice," retorted Andy.

"I hope so, for Wood's sake anyway," Allyson added.

Andy and Landon nodded simultaneously. Just then the secret door opened and Oliver walked out followed by Alex. They were both grinning.

Andy grinned too and asked, "Ok, what's going on, you two?"

Alex glanced at Oliver who nodded his head. "Wood and I are officially going out!" she said happily.

"Hey man, it looks like your waiting finally paid off," said Landon with a grin.

"You know it! And I've got the greatest girl in the world by my side! In my eyes, that is…" Oliver exclaimed and then quickly added as Landon gave him a look. "Alex, I want you to meet someone. This is Allyson Rosendale, a very sweet person once you get to know her. She's kind of like you in that respect," Oliver told Alex.

Allyson stepped forward and gave Alex a warm hug. "Congrats! You deserve him so much, at least from what I've heard," she said with a smile.

Alex grinned as she replied "Thanks and I've heard some good things about you too."

Oliver put his arm around Alex. "Well, if you'll excuse us lovebirds, we have some unfinished business to attend to. If you know what I mean," he said.

The other three grinned as they turned to go.

"What are we going to do?" asked Alex curiously.

"Oh, you'll see…" replied Oliver

Ten minutes later, Oliver and Alex were sitting in one of the Quidditch hoops, making out. Oliver was the first to break the kiss. He glanced up at the sky and then pointed upward.

"Look at the moon," he whispered in Alex's ear.

"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed of the full moon shining gently down on them.

"I love you so much, Alexandra Holt," murmured Oliver as he stroked her hair. Alex nestled down against him.

"I love you too, Oliver," she replied softly.

They sat there in silence enjoying the perfect bliss that they were in. It was like they were in a fairy tale and they had beaten the odds and found each other again. They were finally happy.

It was Alex who broke the silence. "Oliver, do you believe in 'happily ever after'?" she asked.

Oliver smiled as he looked down at her. Her face was lit by the moonlight and she looked heavenly.

"Yes. Yes, I do believe in 'happily ever after'," he replied softly as he kissed her gently on the forehead.

The End