The remainder of the year was quite ordinary for Hogwarts standards. The four had the occasional detention for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but not much more than that had occurred. A year as quiet as this one would not come Hogwarts' way for many more years to come. Even the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry wasn't too bad.

Even the few odd glares from their housemates and professors did not deter the four-some from being friends, though they did tone it down a bit as the year went on. They had to put up a façade to the school in order to avoid suspicion. Even with that they were able to put more time and effort into the task at hand. There will sick of the prejudice the houses had with each other but now was not the time to tear it all down. The Christmas holidays were beginning to roll around once again.

Once again Mr. and Mrs. Wood had gone off gallivanting to some tropical island or another without telling him. He received the post the morning the holiday sign up sheet was announced. He put everything into quidditch in hopes of impressing his parents.

Katie was going home as her brother Kent had taken time off of the English National Quidditch team. She hadn't seen him in quite a while. He played with Charlie Weasley on the final cup winning Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Katie was an average student, but was top notch in Herbology and Charms. Those grades along with the family tradition dictated that she become a healer or a mediwitch, but she didn't know. She didn't like blood, but she wanted to help the masses. Katie hoped to pursue a job in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She knew she wouldn't outmatch her brother…but she would try and maybe she would eventually become an unspeakable…

Marcus was being shipped off to his grandparents once again. When he was little and good looking, he was the prince of his family. Everyone loved him and he had everything he could ever want. But after his mother had died everything began to take a turn for the worse. His father would take out everything on his son. Marcus' first year of Hogwarts was uneventful and fairly ideal for a Slytherin. And the summer after it hell began. His father took all of his rage on Marcus and permanently disfigured his face. His troll like appearance was the best even the most skilled mediwitches could do at St. Mungo's. His father was currently serving time in Azkaban. His grandmother didn't treat him too badly, but his grandfather blamed him for where his son was currently and the loss of his daughter-in-law. Those horrid teeth of him would be a reminder of how much he wanted to get away from his family and make a name other than troll face for himself.

Cedric came from the most ideal of the four's home lives. He was the only child and the center of attention. Cedric's future was all that mattered to his father. Amos Diggory had everything planned despite what his son told him. Nothing was ever good enough when it came to Cedric's grades or achievements.

While Oliver was ignored, Katie outshined, and Marcus abused, Cedric was treated like royalty. That was until Amos had discovered he had been diagnosed as infertile. Cedric's parents tried having another child during his first year and that didn't work out. After that happened Amos put everything in making Cedric the star of Hufflepuff and of Hogwarts. Amos' dreams were being pushed upon his son's already quivering shoulders.

The Diggory's were holding yet another Yule Ball, and he knew how much his parents wanted him there. Correction how much his FATHER wanted him there to show off and maybe even possible find a possible future wife. Cedric wasn't too sure of himself anymore and knew his parents wouldn't be too pleased.

!#$&

Oliver was dreading these holidays like usual. This was the first time he had true friends and he would be stuck alone in Gryffindor tower for the holidays. Even the Weasley's were going home for once. His entire team was going home—even the reserves. He dreaded being the only inhabitant of the tower for the break…

Almost everyone was going home—his friends, team mates, and even the people he talked in class. Well maybe not everyone was going home, but to Oliver they were. He was not really looking forward to the holidays for many reasons…

'Its better being sent with the grandparents' he thought to himself.

Andrew and Holly Wood were not the kindest people in the world. There were both respected in many circles…even those normally exclusive for the dark individuals—namely the purebloods. The pair were Ravenclaws as were the majority of the household. There were the occasional Slytherin (his aunt) or Hufflepuff (his father).

The Wood family was normally viewed as neutral or leaning towards the light, but Andrew and Holly did not fit that mold. Oliver's sorting was the final straw. To them Ravenclaw was ideal and Slytherin was acceptable. Even Hufflepuff was deemed very decent is they showed Slytherin or Ravenclaw tendencies.

Oliver being the first Gryffindor in centuries (unbeknownst to his grandparents. The first Wood in Gryffindor went back five or six centuries) was scandalous and shameful in the eyes of Andrew and Holly. This case was even worse than when Sirius Black was sorted in Gryffindor…the entirety of Gryffindor's table in the Great Hall was littered with Howlers. The then timid Oliver just hid his face…

Minerva McGonagall was fairly prepared for the aftermath of Sirius Black's sorting, but not for Oliver's. She had never liked Andrew Wood or Holly Pine. The two were the most obnoxious people she had ever met. The were even worse than Severus Snape to the Marauders and vice versa. Even Sirius' father Orion (and sometime his mother Walburga) were civil to Minerva while they were in school together.

The Woods were horrible and spent every second possible making her life hell. And for the seven years Minerva was at school there was a sense of house unity… well against Andrew Wood and Holly Pine.

Minerva was great as a chaser, was captain, and a reserve beater if the time arised for her to pick up a bat and defend her team. Her nephew Marius McGonagall followed in her footsteps and was rewarded with a quidditch plaque that also had great names such as James Potter on it. She had dealt the worst defeat to Ravenclaw in her years at Hogwarts annually.

Hufflepuff and Slytherin didn't even care what happened. The flattening of the Ravenclaws annually actually brought great joy through out the school. In her final year she dealt a devastating 580 to 150. The 150 Ravenclaw received was due to the fact the Gryffindor Seeker was rendered unconscious due to a stray Ravenclaw beater bat.

Everyone loved dear Minerva McDougal. Her spent as Head Girl resulted in the lowest number of detentions since the founders. She was very fair to every house…even Ravenclaw…

Holly Pine could never understand why the Slytherin Star Student Tom Riddle could ever fall for the plain looking Minerva and her Gryffindor pride.

Minerva was not looking forward to Oliver's grandparents for other reasons than her own. Oakley Wood (Hufflepuff) and his wife Elizabeth White (Slytherin) were a well known Unspeakable team. They could not understand how a Gryffindor could be created in a Gryffindor free family, especially because Oliver was left with his grandparents most of the time.

Oakley and Elizabeth were proud of their son, despite the lack of attention they gave him. The pair were well known unspeakables in the sense that not even Lord Voldemort dare go against them for fear of what they knew.

Oliver's fascination-well obsession, was a great fault to his traditionally Ravenclaw family. His maternal family and many in his paternal family encouraged the gift, but Andrew and Holly would not have it. Knowledge was more important than any cruddy sport… that could also explain their obese appearances that would even put Vernon Dursley to shame.

Sirius Black received a sole Howler the morning after he was sorted. They did try to force a resort, but soon game up not too long after. Oliver received two every morning for the rest of the year after the initial display. Even the mail wards could not keep them out. Minerva saw a lot of similarities between the two and hoped Oliver would not live a life with a similar fate.

Oliver did not open up as Sirius did after his first week attending Hogwarts…he barely even opened up by the end of the year. That year there were two boys and eight girls in Gryffindor. And she knew that the Oliver would have been the only one if the very Slytherin-Ravenclaw Percy Weasley had not threatened the sorting hat if he was not sorted into Gryffindor as his forefathers before him. She just knew he wouldn't do well with a Ravenclaw by his side 24/7.

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Author's Note

I am so sorry this took so long people. I am now a freshman in college now so it has taken me a lot of time to adjust and manage my time properly. I just managed to type this today before finals start. Hope you enjoyed it.

And as a disclaimer I only own Kent Bell and the Wood's minus Oliver (darn I wish I did).

1521 words baby! A new single chapter record for me!

Thanks again for your support!