Disclaimer: I own nothing belonging to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Fifteen: Shifting Personalities

I can honestly say that despite the fact Oliver was looking better and doing better in the days after he awoke, there was still a piece of me that despised him greatly. His Gryffindor teammates were swarming the hospital wing, making me incredibly uncomfortable, on top of the discomfort I naturally felt around Madame Pomfrey. The lack of individuality he had bothered me greatly. Of course, I may not have been as well known as Wood, but my opinion was still unchanged and I felt it to be the most accurate one of him.

At seemingly the worst time, there was a change of events with Madame Pomfrey and her view of Holly and I. Holly's roles seemed to be swapped with my own. The head nurse was calling me to assist her in tending to the boy more and more often, much to my demise. One evening, I remember she had beckoned me into the room before asking me to change the wraps on his leg where she had bandaged the once open gash where the boy had crashed to the ground.

"You know what to do, correct?" She asked, standing up from the stool, pushing the pail of warm water into my arms.

I looked at her warily," I've never been allowed to touch a patient before…"

I had not meant for my tone to come across as sardonic, but the nurse immediately narrowed her eyes at me, as if regretting her decision to allow me to bandage the boy. In fact, I considered keeping up the sarcasm; perhaps, I could wiggle myself free from this situation. Then again, I couldn't afford to be banished from the hospital wing; Professor Snape would never view me the same again.

Quickly and briefly, Madame Pomfrey pulled the sheet up and hauled the boy's leg up, rolling up his pajama bottoms as she did. She demonstrated how the bandages were to be unraveled and disposed of and explained that there may be some excess blood around the wound, but it was unlikely. However, if there was, then I was to clean it up. From then on out, I assured her that I knew what I was doing.

It was only a matter of moments before she had exited and I was alone, sitting on the stool and unwrapping the bandages from Oliver Wood's legs.

In my opinion, it would have been far more comfortable had neither of us said anything to one another, but he broke the peace with a statement that only made himself look a little more foolish.

He cleared his throat before continuing," So… you work in the Hospital Wing?"

I cut my eyes at him, briefly looking away from the wounds and answering hesitantly," Yes…"

"That's…remarkable," He answered, as if forced.

Awkward was hardly an accurate word for the air in the room.

I looked him straight in the eyes for several moments before shaking my head and looking off into the line of beds, some occupied and others empty, before turning back to the wound. Perhaps, if I simply ignored him, then he would shut up.

"So…do you enjoy it?" He asked tentatively as I finished unraveling one leg, grabbing the wet towel from the pail and gently dabbing the wound, watching him flinch slightly at the touch.

When finished, I tossed the rag into the pail before leaning back and looking at him once more," Well, I would certainly not rank it with one of my favorite things to do, but it isn't killing me so I suppose it is alright."

He blinked several times, obviously not expecting such an answer. I looked back to the wound, hoping that he would not ask any more questions. In fact, I wanted nothing more than to distance myself from this boy for some odd reason. I knew that he had offended my friend, this was true, but there was something else that simply made me uneasy.

However, he continued to press for conversation.

"So…do you like Quidditch?" He asked, sounding innocent enough.

I leaned back, unraveling the roll of bandage while doing so before exhaling slowly and answering with as level as a tone as I could," I've very little interest in Quidditch."

"You know, you could always try watching it…" He started babbling on and on about all sorts of different formations and Quid ditch language that I could only hope to understand. I found this opportunity very ideal; he was satisfied and I was satisfied with simply listen to him babble, but really only paying attention to bandaging up his leg. After several minutes of him talking (and barely leaving any room for breaths might I add), I had finished wrapping his legs and carefully unrolled his pajama bottoms and covered the sight of impact before collecting my items and rising to my feet, apparently cutting him off mid-sentence.

He looked up at me, obviously catching the message I was sending him. I glanced over to him before nodding cordially and starting to exit, careful to push back the stool as I did so and stack the supplies neatly on the bedside table. Just as I thought I was going to escape without another word to him, I heard his voice and mentally groaned.

"Are you avoiding me because of what I said about your friend?" He asked bluntly, wanting nothing more than an answer.

I bit down hard on my lip and saw out of my peripheral view, Holly standing in the door frame

of Madame Pomfrey's office, as if waiting to hear the very same answer. How hard it was for me to actually answer rather than simply walk away without another word. Much to my displeasure, I looked straight into his brown eyes and said firmly," Yes."

Perhaps, I was being too harsh with him, but the first impression I had of him was not the most pleasant. In the moment, I was so caught on my emotions and how baffled I was at him, rather than looking past his flaws. Little did I know, that there was much more to Oliver Wood than just a Quidditch player.

The months seemed to pass by quickly and I grew more and more accustomed to the life of the hospital wing in addition to juggling the work I needed to finish for school. Madame Pomfrey was still a case that I had not yet figured out, but had everything been going perfectly smooth, then Holly and I would have nothing to gossip about as we labeled cauldrons.

I do not remember the exact day, but when Oliver Wood was released from the wing; it was basically a day of celebration amongst his teammates. I remember hearing their hollers through the office doors and wishing that the walls were much thicker than what they were.

Life outside of the hospital wing was going rather smoothly, as well. Every day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I would chat with all of my fellow students. Including Benjamin, whom I was beginning to speak more with. We had gotten into a habit of sitting in the common room and telling each other of our day.

"Strange, you would think he wouldn't say anything to you at all," Benjamin told me practically whispering. He was referring to Oliver Wood on the evening that I had explained the events of briefly speaking with the Wood boy. "You'd think his ego would have been too hurt."

I shook my head as I pulled my legs up under me," I don't know…he seemed sincere enough and I don't know if having a big ego is…him."

Benjamin's eyes widened, as if taking my comment as a joke before laughing, still hushed," Him? He's a Quidditch player…isn't having a big ego on the application?"

I shook my head, slightly embarrassed by my companion at the sight of an empty room around us (whispering was unnecessary)," First of all, I don't think they fill out an application. Secondly, you don't have to whisper. Thirdly, I don't know if anyone really knows the real Oliver Wood."

"I'll answer your statements in chronological order," Benjamin answered matter-of-factually. "If they don't currently fill out an application, then they most certainly should. Next, I don't want to take any risks…if they hear me speaking ill of them, then my social life is most certainly ruined. Lastly, why are you making a case for him?" Benjamin only raised his voice half a pitch.

The question rung in my ears for several moments before actually processing and moving up to my brain. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out for several seconds," It just seems odd is all. Someone going from such a recluse, reading books and such, to being such an obnoxious jerk. I highly doubt that a person can be two polar opposites in a matter of days."

There was a pause as Benjamin processed the thought. In that time, I added a side note to the conversation, teasingly," Oh and for the record…your social life is already ruined whether they hear you or not."

This resulted in an immediate reaction from the dark haired, brown-eyed boy," Hey!"

I shrugged my shoulders, smirking," It's only the truth."

His mouth hung ajar for several seconds as he blubbered as to his comeback. I simply patted him on the shoulder before standing up, still chuckling and moving over to the table that I had placed my homework for the evening on. Potions and Charms awaited me though I could not say that I was excited to explore into the world of Potions or Charms.

Another person whom I rarely saw was Anna, the girl who I had met on the train en route to Hogwarts. Being placed into different houses really did dampen any sort of relationship that had begun to form. I remember seeing her several times and beginning to greet her, but watching her simply walk by without a word or glance even.

I tried to not let the ignorance bother me, but when it turned into habit; I couldn't help but feel a little hurt.

Strangely enough, I remember when the school was emptying for Christmas holiday and seeing Anna sitting alone in the library as I passed by with my luggage behind me. I could have kept on walking and left for the train, but there were several minutes to spare and the idea of walking by and leaving someone completely alone in the abandoned library would have driven me mad. Even if it was someone who had acted as though I hadn't existed for the last few months.

Slowly and tentatively, I ambled into the library's open doors and approached her, feeling as though every inch of my body was shaking," Hello…Anna."

The words sounded so foreign since I had not spoken to her in so long.

She looked up once, met my glance before looking down again and saying simply," Hello, Lana."

It was obvious that she was less than excited to see me," Are you…are you working on something?"

Though I was asking the question, I knew that we had several assignments to get started on for the break. By the looks of it, she was working on a rather complex Potions assignment that I remember receiving, looking at once, and developing a headache simply by gazing at it.

She cut her eyes at me," Yes…Potions."

I nodded my head, looking down at the paper and still confused at this girl, who I once had spoken so friendly with before. I probably should have walked away then, but something inside me forced me to stay there, standing awkwardly beside her.

"Oh, that's…-"

Before I could finish my phrase, she was already cutting me off.

"Don't you have a train to be catching?" She asked me, simply but pointedly as she looked straight at me.

I looked straight into her eyes, wanting to know just what it was that she was not telling me. How could a person change personalities so drastically? It seemed rather similar to a person by the name of Oliver Wood. Was there some sort of disease going around that caused such polar changes in personality.

"Yes, yes I do, but I just wanted to check in on-"

"Lana! Oh thank goodness, I found you," Benjamin said, nearly out of breath as he rushed into the library. Before he could finish his thought, he laid eyes on Anna and smiled cordially at her. "Hello there, Anna."

Suddenly, the look on her face seemed to brighten as she smiled at Benjamin," Hello Benjamin, how are you?"

I stood there, completely and utterly baffled.

"I'm doing well," He answered, nodding as he looked at her. "Are you not going home for the holidays?"

I couldn't help but cringe as he asked this. The answer seemed obvious, but the damage had already been done for the question had already been thrown out.

She looked down, biting on her lip before nodding," Yes, I am. Only for this year though."

"That's alright," I said, inserting myself into the conversation. "The castle will be lovely during this time of the year."

Her comment to me this time was only slightly warmer," Yes, I suppose so."

My eyes just so happened to catch a clock as Benjamin and Anna continued speaking to one another. I allowed for a pause in the conversation before finally informing the both of them of the time and that we really did have to leave then. I felt the eyes of Anna burning at me as she looked up as I said," It really is getting late…we should be going."

Benjamin nodded before the both of us began to turn away and Annie said kindly," Have a happy holiday. Safe travels!"

Her tone of voice was rather chipper and friendly, I looked over and smiled kindly at her, genuinely hoping that she had a good holiday, though I couldn't help but feel a little sad for her. Benjamin did the same and in a matter of seconds we had left her presence. The two of us continued walking and casually speaking to one another, but the conversation was cut short as we reached the end of the corridor.

The doors to the library were still ajar and from the inside the sound of sobbing could be heard. A girl's sobbing who both Benjamin and I immediately thought to be none other than Anna.

A/N: Sorry for the delay! One of these days, I am going to get back into my writing schedule, but school is kicking my butt as of late. All I know is that the next chapter is going to be DRAMATIC. So be prepared :D Thanks for reading and please, please, please let me know what you thought and any opinions you may have! Have a lovely week!