Chapter 39

Tiannah apparated over to the Wood's residence, knocking on the door. James answered, looking pale and stressed.

"Thanks for coming, Tiannah. She's in the living room," he said, letting her through the door. Tiannah walked into the living room, spotting an upset Monica, blowing her nose. Despite having an intense dislike for Oliver's sister, she felt sorry for her.

"Monica?"

Monica looked up and wiped her eyes, and Tiannah sat next to her, looking concerned.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm, I just found out that my husband cheated on me with my little brother's girlfriend. I'm grand, Tiannah. Just grand."

"Look," Tiannah snapped, "if you came here to give me a hard time about it, I am not in the mood. I'm stressed enough as it is."

Monica had the decency to look slightly ashamed with herself. Tiannah also felt a little ashamed, as she had just snapped at a distraught Monica.

"Sorry," Monica mumbled. "I'm sorry for being such a bitch for all those years. It was just irritating, with you being so gifted. I never got to be Oliver's older sister, as he was too busy playing with you. When you went to America, all Oliver did was talk about you at Christmas, and he didn't even care when I got good marks, or when I got a job, or anything. It was always you. I was jealous, I suppose, of how happy you two were. I always struggled making friends and finding a boyfriend, but you two just seemed to fit in so well together. That's why I was so happy to find Mark, who seemed to accept me for who I was. At the wedding, I noticed that you and Oliver weren't together, but so obviously in love with each other. I felt happy that you were pining for each other, and I had actually found love. And once again, you beat me to it. Stunning, talented Tiannah took away the one person who I actually thought accepted me: my own husband. What makes it worse is that you didn't even realise it!"

Tiannah awkwardly wrapped an arm around Monica's shoulders as she sobbed. She had suspicions that Monica was jealous to some extent, but never had she imagined that it went so far.

"I remember when I went to America and met my friend, Hestia. For a few years, I was so jealous of her. She was supermodel stunning from age eleven, and as she got older she just became more and more beautiful. She was small but curvy; she got along well with everyone... I was the tall, sporty tomboy who didn't really fit in at the all girls school."

"I don't see why you were jealous," Monica sniffed. "You're gorgeous."

Tiannah chuckled. "Thanks. As I became older, I grew out of the jealousy. That's when we became really close. I learnt that jealousy is an unnecessary emotion, and that there will always be someone who loves you for who you are. With Oliver, I didn't have to try. I was a mess; he was there. Can you honestly say that you didn't have to try for Mark?" she asked.

Monica didn't answer for several long moments. When she finally did, it was in a cracked voice. "He never outwardly said that I needed to look better, act better... but he always gave me that impression."

Tiannah nodded and squeezed Monica tightly. "You'll find someone, like I did. For some people, it isn't hard to look, as it was for Oliver and me. Maybe you just have to look a little harder, and you'll find someone."

Monica pulled away from the embrace. "Thank you, Tiannah. Really."

Tiannah smiled. She never did like holding grudges. Reconciling with Monica made her feel a lot better about that Mark situation.

"Divorce that douchebag, Monica. No one deserves to put up with cheating scum like him, okay?"

Monica nodded, smiling slightly. "I never did ask: how are you about the whole situation?"

Tiannah sighed. She may as well be honest to Monica, who had been perfectly honest with her.

"I'm pretty shaken, to be honest. I didn't expect him to do anything of the sort. But I'll get over it; I have Oliver. Seriously, if you need anything, just owl me and I'll come over," she said gently, patting Monica's hand.

"That was good of you," Oliver said that night, as they lay in Tiannah's bed.

"Yeah, well, it wasn't fair what happened to her. I didn't realise that she was so jealous of me," Tiannah admitted, turning around and facing Oliver. He brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes and brought his hand down to her waist, where it stayed. Tiannah gave him a small smile and kissed his cheek.

"Really, though. You're usually so stubborn; I didn't expect you to comfort her like you did, especially after the way that she's treated you."

"What can I say? We all change."

"You look tired," Hestia said, as the two women walked down the streets of London. They were going clothes shopping, which occurred at Hestia's insistence.

"I was busy last night," Tiannah replied, winking at Hestia, who rolled her eyes.

"So was I."

"How is your fiancée?" Tiannah questioned, her eyebrows waggling suggestively. Hestia grinned at her best friend.

"Good, Tia. Amazing, really. We've planned to have the wedding next summer, so a year away, because we want to have enough money."

Tiannah nodded. "Good idea, Hest."

"I know. It was Ken's idea, actually. I've been thinking about the fashion designer prospect, and it is going to take years to become well known in the magical and muggle worlds. So I think that until I've been married, I'm going to try and be a journalist for the Daily Prophet."

Tiannah thought about this for a moment, before responding. "I think that that is a good idea too, Hest. I've always thought that you were good at writing... well, you wonder why I always made you write my essays."

The blonde's features lit up in a grin. Tiannah returned it, wrapping an arm around Hestia's shoulders as they walked into a muggle clothing shop.

"I was also thinking," Hestia began, "that we should get a house together."

"Hest... you're engaged."

"Yeah, but I've always wanted to live with you! We can go furniture shopping... it'll be fun!" Hestia squealed, jumping up and down. Tiannah rolled her eyes. Only Hestia would jump up and down at the thought of furniture shopping.

"Are you sure Ken is okay with this?"

Hestia pushed Tiannah against the shop wall, smirking. "No, it's because I'm madly in love with you. I wish to have your babies."

Tiannah shrieked with laughter, causing many of the customers and shopkeepers to look at the two curiously. Wiping her eyes, Tiannah faced Hestia.

"Sorry, all future babies are reserved for Oliver."

"So what do you say about living together?" Hestia asked, brushing a curl out of her eyes.

Truthfully, Tiannah felt a little apprehensive. Sure, Hestia was great, but she wasn't sure whether living with her would be the best option, especially considering the fact that Hestia was engaged and Tiannah was in a serious relationship with Oliver. Oliver wouldn't mind; Tiannah knew that. And Ken did say that he was fine with it, according to Hestia...

"Okay. But I'll need to talk to Oliver first," Tiannah said to an ecstatic Hestia.

"Good. Now let's get shopping!"

That evening, Tiannah approached Oliver about the living situation.

"Tia, if that's what you want, I'm fine with it. Actually, I was thinking about getting a unit to myself... just temporarily, mind you."

Tiannah almost sighed in relief as Oliver accepted the plans. Oliver grinned and pressed his hand to the small of her back, pressing her body closer to his. He locked his door and faced Tiannah, who was blushing. He always loved seeing her cheeks in such a shade. Smirking in a rather attractive manner, he pressed the issue as to why she was blushing.

"You're looking at me in that way," she said, squirming.

"What way?" Oliver questioned, innocently.

"The 'I think that you are so beautiful and I'm horny' way."

"You know me so well," he teased, before leaning in and kissing her.

It was a week until the Quidditch World Cup. Oliver was lying in Tiannah's bed, an arm draped across her waist as they dozed lightly. They were rudely awoken by Hestia, who was singing loudly.

"Bloody hell," Tiannah groaned, turning around and facing Hestia. "Do you mind?"

"Nope. Go home, Oliver, we have house hunting to do!"

Oliver mumbled an inaudible phrase and stood up.

"You're lucky we're not naked, Hest," Tiannah said, throwing a wink at Oliver, as he pulled on his shirt. Hestia rolled her eyes and went through Tiannah's wardrobe.

"You better wear something skimpy... y'know, flirting with the realtors couldn't be a bad thing..."

Oliver turned sharply to Tiannah, who was glaring at Hestia. He stroked her cheek, as her lips curled into a smirk. Oliver gently brushed a piece of hair from her shoulder, his fingers brushing against the necklace that he gave her a year ago. He slipped his fingers into her hair and looked at her seriously.

"I hope you won't be doing any flirting."

Tiannah kissed Oliver's cheek, smirking. In her opinion, it was adorable how jealous her boyfriend looked at the very prospect of her flirting with another man. Merlin, I really do love him, she thought, smiling at Oliver.

"I won't," she assured, giving Oliver a lingering kiss on the lips, until she heard Hestia tutting impatiently.

"Go," Tiannah whispered, gently pushing him out of the door. "I'll see you tonight," she assured, winking.

"My place, okay?"

Tiannah nodded exasperatedly, before closing the door on Oliver. She turned around to see Hestia, grinning.

"Shut up," she muttered, failing to conceal a grin. Hestia turned back to Tiannah's cupboard, ruffling through her clothes. She was already dressed in what she deemed to be appropriate clothing: a tight black skirt, pink heels and a pink blouse, which had three of the buttons undone. When Hestia noticed Tiannah's look as she eyed her clothes, she put her hands on her hips.

"Tia, if the realtor is a male or a lesbian, this attire will come in handy. C'mon, a little seducing ain't that bad!"

"You. Are. Engaged."

Hestia rolled her eyes, a broad grin gracing her features. "Ken won't mind."

"Sure," Tiannah muttered under her breath, before walking into the shower.

When she walked out in her bathrobe, Hestia had set some clothes out on Tiannah's bed: a denim miniskirt, an emerald green, off the shoulders shirt and black stiletto heels. Tiannah frowned, but Hestia glared.

"You are wearing this, Tiannah Summers. If you don't... well, let's just say that you won't be playing Quidditch anytime soon."

"Fine, you bitch. Be warned: I will have my revenge."

"Yeah yeah," Hestia said, ruffling through Tiannah's underwear draw. "Okay Tia, wear this black lacy bra and matching knickers, okay?"

"Hestia," Tiannah said in a edgy tone, "I don't know about you, but I am not planning on stripping in front of the realtor."

"Don't be silly, Tia," Hestia said, waving a hand impatiently. "Firstly, that shirt is low-cut, so people will be able to see your bra, which is a good thing, and secondly, we'll probably be hunting all day, maybe even possibly buying a house. So you'll see Oliver straight after, and I'm sure he'll be thanking me for making you were them."

Tiannah froze at Hestia's logic. Smiling, Tiannah got dressed into the clothes that she allocated. Hestia put a charm on the shoes so that Tiannah didn't wobble, much to the brunette's delight. Hestia curled Tiannah's hair, put on a light coat of mascara and eyeliner, a touch of lipgloss and put in Tiannah's favourite earrings; the earrings from Oliver. Tiannah smiled at her refection. The top of her bra was protruding from the low cut off the shoulder shirt, which didn't look as trashy as Tiannah thought it would. Overall, she thought that Hestia did a good job. They walked downstairs together, and Daniel spat out his coffee when he saw what his daughter was wearing.

"What on earth-"

"She did it!" Tiannah said hastily, pointing to Hestia, who rolled her eyes. Daniel pursed his lips.

"I don't suppose Oliver had anything to do with this?"

"Nope, actually. Just Hestia. We're going house hunting."

"Yes, I know that," he said hastily, although he had a slight sad edge to his voice at the thought of his daughter moving out. "But that doesn't explain the promiscuous clothing."

Hestia and Tiannah exchanged glances, smirking. "See, Daddy, Hestia and I are in love. We just can't wait to tear this clothing off each other."

Daniel snorted and chuckled, which turned out to be an odd combination of sounds.

"Have fun with that," he said sarcastically, as Hestia grabbed Tiannah's hand and lead her out of the door.

"Ready for some house hunting?"

Disclaimer: Um... no. Harry Potter isn't mine. Just in case you haven't realised it by now.