With the start of the summer came Aderyn's final operation on her knee. It would be the longest and most difficult one yet, and with the longest recovery time. She was stuck in a hospital bed for a week and would be on crutches for six weeks thereafter.
Thankfully though she had good friends who would keep her company. Brianne and Charlotte were in her room after she was out of surgery. Char looked absolutely beside herself with joy and Bri was shifting uneasily with her hands behind her back.
"What is it you two are up to?" Ryn said curiously.
The brunette took her hands from behind her back and held up her left one, a bright clear stone glittering on her finger.
"He proposed!" both of her friends cried in synch.
"Oh my God! Get over here and hug me girl!" Ryn laughed, sitting up a bit.
As the brunette stepped back she bit her lip nervously," The wedding's next summer and I was hoping you would help me plan it?"
"I'd love to, but Char's much better at this sort of thing."
The aforementioned witched huffed, "True, but I'm already designing and making her dress. That on top of my internship at Witch Weekly this summer is going to take all my time."
Ryn smiled at her friends, "Guess that settles that then. So, Char, when do you start?"
"Tomorrow. Bri's already made me promise to get her Rita Skeeter's autograph."
Ryn's second week home was spent with Bri discussing wedding plans. Originally their idea had been to hold the wedding in a garden until the bride to be dejectedly said that Josh was allergic to most flowers. So, it was decided on simple, elegant flower arrangements. (Char would have scoffed at the use of 'simple' and 'elegant' in the same sentence.)
"Do you think your dad would be willing to do the arrangements?" Bri asked hopefully.
It took Ryn a minute, "You know what, I think he would be. Hey dad!"
He poked his head in from the den, "Yeah?"
"Want to do flower arrangements for a wedding?" his daughter asked.
"I'd love to. Say, I have some beautiful exotics blooming right now. Would you like to take a look? We can discuss what you're looking for." he addressed the brunette.
When Bri and Ryn's father left for the greenhouse she rubbed her eyes. Helping a friend plan a wedding was stressful; she could only imagine what planning hers would be like.
Shaking her head she mumbled, "Nope. Small and simple. Out in the backyard with close friends and family."
There was a 'pop' as someone Apparated into the kitchen. Looking up she saw Oliver.
"Hey, how's the knee?" he asked, sitting at the table beside her.
"It aches and itches like any healing wound." she smiled tiredly.
Looking at the books, magazines and papers strewn about he asked, "What's the status on the wedding?"
"Right now not so good. It's hard to decide on flowers when the groom's allergic to most every known blossoming plant. "She laughed, taking a sip from a coffee mug.
The familiar scent of hazelnut filled his nose. It was her favorite and she would often remark that nobody made a better cup of coffee than the Hogwarts house elves.
"What kind of a hostess am I? Would you like something to drink?" she asked, reaching for her crutches.
He stayed her hand, "I'm fine. All I wanted was to see how you were."
Leaning across the table, they kissed until someone cleared their throat from behind them.
"Hey Ollie." Bri greeted, smiling.
"Oliver." Dorian Rivers nodded, trying hard not to smile at the young man.
"Bri. Mr. Rivers." he greeted in turn.
Ryn had her hand over her mouth trying to hide a smile, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"It was nice of you to check up on me, but don't you have a Quidditch season to prepare for?" she said, giving him the out he needed.
"Actually, I do. It was nice seeing you all." he made his way to the den and there was the sound of him Apparating home.
It was the week before first term when she was allowed off of her crutches. Although she still had to wear the heavy brace, she was less restricted in what she could do. With helping Brianne planning her wedding Ryn saw very little of her boyfriend and was looking forward to a week where she didn't have to worry about anything. So, of course, she went to see Oliver.
When Oliver woke that morning the sun was just starting to rise, the soft orange light of dawn falling onto the beautiful witch beside him. She had come over two days before had hadn't left.
Her skin seemed to glow in the light, the roses tattooed on her back slowly unfurling. Ryn had fallen asleep on her stomach, arms curled under the pillow, her ashy blonde hair draped across her face. What it was she saw in him, why she was with him, he would never know.
Lightly he began to trail kisses across her bare shoulder and she stirred. She greeted him with a sleepy smile as she rolled onto her back.
"Morning."
"Morning." she yawned.
As she stretched and sat up the covers fell from her body. All that she wore was the necklace he had given her for Christmas last year. Oliver pressed a kiss to her lips, then down her neck and along her collarbone. Her hands trailed across his chest and abs, causing him to moan at the witch's touch.
"I really should be getting home..." Aderyn groaned, sliding out of bed.
"Will I see you again before we leave for school?"
She buttoned up one of his shirts, "I'm sure you will."
Bri wrung the Daily Prophet in her hands, "I hope they catch Black before this summer. Just as I finally talked Josh into an outdoor wedding..."
"Relax girl. I don't think that Sirius Black would be the least bit interested in ruining your wedding." Ryn reassured, easing the twisted paper out of her friend's hands.
The train screeched to a halt and the lights flickered off. Colder and colder the air became, their breath fogged in front of them. Black figures drifted compartment to compartment and a feeling of despair washed over the friends, Ryn curling up against Oliver and Bri's eyes brimming with tears.
After a few minutes the lights came back on, the train started moving and the temperature returned to normal.
"That was the most terrible feeling I've ever experienced in my life." Bri choked out, with her friends nodding in agreement.
As far as Quidditch practices were concerned Oliver wanted to hit it early and hard, starting the first week of term. Unfortunately it decided to rain, but that just made for harsher practice conditions and would mean the team performed better when it was sunny and dry.
After practice the team all trudged back to the castle for breakfast, robes dripping wet and muddy. Ryn was waiting for him at the entrance to the Great Hall.
"Morning." he greeted, shaking his wet hair.
She laughed, "Morning. Amoveo Liquidus."
Now that his robes were dry she allowed him to drape an arm across her shoulders as they went to sit down to breakfast.
The Saturday before Halloween the girls made a trip into Hogsmeade to see about bridesmaids dresses and new dress robes for the boys, which meant Oliver was forced to go too.
Joshua met them there, and was being fitted while the girls were off with another witch who was showing them different fabrics.
"So, when are you going to ask Ryn the big question?"
Oliver looked over at the blonde who caught his gaze and smiled before turning back to the material samples.
"I was thinking of waiting until after Quidditch season. And that's only if I can get her father's blessing."
"You're so old-fashioned." Josh chuckled.
He shrugged, "I guess I am."
"What if he says no?"
Ryn stepped out of a dressing room in a short yellow dress, twirling around to show Brianne.
"Even if we don't get married, I doubt I'll be without her."
Sunday night on the way back to the Common Room the stairways were crowded and people were whispering and yelling.
"What happened?" Ryn asked a fourth year.
"The Fat Lady's gone." he told her before backing down the stairs.
Everyone made their way back to the Great Hall, sleeping bags were laid out and they were ordered to stay there for the night while teachers searched the grounds for Sirius Black.
"I hope this doesn't affect the Quidditch match..." Oliver grumbled.
The first match of the year was on a cold, rainy and windy day. Slytherin's Seeker was still injured so instead today's opponent was Hufflepuff with their new Seeker. Potter had disappeared in the clouds; she guessed he was in pursuit of the Snitch. Dark shapes made her blood run cold and the whole audience shivered. A figure in scarlet robes fell and Professor Dumbledore stood and began shouting out spells.
Aderyn waited at the steps leading into the school after the Hufflepuff win, soaked to the bone but not feeling the cold.
The twins came walking up and exchanged a look.
"Ryn, I think you need to go get him." George had said gently.
Her eyes narrowed," Trying to drown himself in the showers again?"
"'fraid so. We're gonna go check on Harry."
"Alright Oliver, come on. There are still two games to go." She called as she entered the locker rooms
She found him on one of the benches, head in his hands.
"Dementors, really? What were they even doing there?"
"They sensed the crowd I guess. Dumbledore is furious and has assured everyone that the dementors will stay outside of the school. Now come on," she laid a hand on his shoulder, "you'll catch your death if you stay out here."
Brianne had asked that Ryn stay with her for Christmas so they could spend the time working more on the wedding and to help her with the dress Charlotte was sending. She had been planning on staying anyways, but working on more wedding plans hadn't been part of her original idea.
"Well, have a Happy Christmas. I'll be here." she told him, standing on her toes and kissing him.
He picked her up and laid her over his shoulder, "I'd much rather take you with me."
"I do like this view." Ryn laughed.
Setting her back down they shared another kiss and he grabbed his bags and left.
Oliver found his dad in the study, his face in the paper.
"Dad?"
"Hmm? What's up Ol?" he said, setting the newspaper down and folding his hands on the desk.
"I...I want to ask Aderyn to marry me at the end of the year." he said, mouth dry.
Mr. Wood opened one of the drawers of the desk, a smile on his face. He tossed a small black velvet box at his son. "Took you long enough. That was your grandmother's. Aderyn will wear it proudly, I'm sure."
That same afternoon he was to meet Aderyn's father and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. As he walked up to the house Oliver felt his mouth go dry and his palms become sweaty. He hadn't been this nervous before his first Quidditch game!
Before he could knock the door was opened and Dorian Rivers was there, face void of emotion, "Come in."
Dorian led him into the den, motioning him to sit on the couch while he took a seat across from him in an armchair.
Swallowing the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, Oliver spoke, "Mr. Rivers, I would like to ask your permission to marry your daughter."
A smile slowly spread across the older wizard's face, "You may marry Aderyn. Oliver, you make her happy and I know she will be safe with you. Now, would you care for a drink?"
The girls were eating breakfast on Christmas day discussing the dress that had arrived the day before when a commotion at the other end of the table drew their attention.
"Harry's got himself a Firebolt!" someone called.
A crowd gathered around and shouts and admirations echoed around the hall.
"Well Oliver will be happy to hear that." Ryn whispered to herself.
"Can you believe McGonagall confiscated it? I mean, so long as he stays on it long enough to catch the Snitch, what's the harm if it's got a few jinxes?" Oliver raved the day classes resumed.
He had just been to see McGonagall to discuss getting Harry his broom for practice. Ryn listened to him and tried not to smile. Oh to have been a fly on the wall in that room.
A few weeks later the Firebolt was returned to its owner and Ryn found herself out on the Pitch watching practice. The whole team was awed by the performance of the Seeker and his new broom. Excitement swelled in her and she couldn't help the smile on her face.
"Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup." she muttered under her breath as her boyfriend walked up.
By the time the Gryffindor v. Slytherin match the last week of May rolled around Bri and Ryn had put the finishing touches on the wedding plans and the latter was relieved. Bri's parents had sent her a camera to take pictures of her last days at school. The girls had taken a few, but mostly they were waiting until the very last day. For the last game of the year though, they figured why not get few shots?
It was tentative at first, waiting to rack up the right number of points for the win.
"FOUL! Goddamnit that was a FOUL!" Aderyn screamed at the top of her lungs when Oliver took two bludgers to the gut.
By some miracle he stayed conscious and on his broom. That didn't stop the witch from shaking with rage.
She was relieved when Potter caught the Snitch, and the crowd around her moved like a wave to the grass. Hanging back a little, Ryn watched as her Housemates celebrated, and smiled at the happy tears streaming down her boyfriend's face. This was what he had been dreaming of since their first year.
"Rinni!" he called when the rush of revelers migrated into the castle.
"Finally! You did it!" she called back, running into his outstretched arms.
Oliver picked her up and twirled her around. This moment was one he hoped to share with her for the rest of their lives. If he went on to play professionally he wanted her to be there at every game, and for her to come meet him afterwards and celebrate the wins together. And, maybe someday, their children would be there too.
"Ollie, you alright?" Ryn snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Yeah, I'm great. Why don't we head up and celebrate with everyone else?" he grinned at her.
The following morning Ryn stretched, her elbow hitting something warm and firm. She looked over to see a shirtless Oliver at her side, one of his arms draped across her stomach.
"Really Wood?" an irate Percy marched into the dorm.
Oliver woke with a start, "Oh come off it Perce. I could ask where you were all night."
Ryn slipped out of bed, dressed in one of her boyfriend's shirts and her pajama bottoms, "You know, be lucky we're clothed."
Throwing the sexy Scot she loved a devious look as she made for the door, she winked, "Well, this time anyways."
As she descended the stairs she could hear Percy fuming.
It was a sunny afternoon and Aderyn found herself at the Pitch, taking in the scent of the grass and spring breeze. She had borrowed Brianne's camera and was taking pictures of one of her favorite places.
"Aderyn?" Oliver's voice asked from behind her.
She turned; he rarely used her full first name, "Something wrong Ollie?"
"I...Can we talk for a minute?"
Her throat went dry as she nodded.
"Ryn...Rinni...We've been friends since we were little. I have spent much of my life with you around." he paused and got down on one knee," Will you spend the rest of your life with me?"
As he held out the ring Ryn felt her heart leap into her throat, making speech impossible. So she just nodded her head as fast as she could. He stood up and took her left hand, sliding the ring on her finger.
They lay down in the grass, Ryn's head on his chest. At that moment life couldn't have been any better. Picking up the camera Ryn sat up and got a picture of her new fiancé.
"Where did you get that?" he asked annoyed.
"Borrowed it from Bri. It's muggle, but it works the same."
Oliver lunged at her, forcing her to hold the camera away from her body to prevent from being damaged. He kissed her and snatched it out of her hand.
"Hey! That's playing dirty!" She laughed, giving him the chance to retaliate, clicking the shutter before she moved.
"Let me see the ring again!" Bri ordered on the train home.
Ryn obliged, holding her arm out across the benches for her friend to look at.
"Aderyn Wood has a really nice ring to it, don't you think?" She asked the brunette, both the witches laughing happily.
Ryn got home and she couldn't wait to tell her dad that she was getting married.
"Dad!" She called.
"I'm in the kitchen!" he called back.
She found him and smiled, "Guess what?"
"Hmm?" he gave her a knowing smile.
Holding out her hand to show him the glittering engagement ring, she realized something, but he beat her to it.
"Yes, I knew. He asked for my blessing beforehand. I'm really happy for you Snidget." He said, pulling her in for a hug.
They cried, both from joy and from the fact that Aderyn would be leaving before long to start her own life, her own family.
It was the end of July and the day of Bri's wedding. The garden at her parent's house had been decorated with white orchids and dusky white roses, cream colored ribbons were draped across the fence, and in the trees little white birds chirped merrily. Aderyn and Charlotte stood behind the bride, each in their long, lavender satin dresses.
Brianne's light sobs of pure joy made Ryn's heart flutter happily. If anyone was destined to be a bride it was Bri. She looked absolutely stunning in the silk and chiffon dress that bunched in places that accentuated her form, and a train that just brushed the ground. It had taken both Char and Ryn to get it on because of the layers of the dress, but the end result was something out of a fairytale.
As the couple finished their vows and kissed, Charlotte leaned over to Ryn and whispered in her ear, "You're next sweetie."
"Good. I have a few ideas for the dress." She whispered back, watching as her friends expression changed in shock.
In the years to come the friends would remain close, sharing their successes with gatherings and parties that would carry on well into the night. The wedding of Oliver and Aderyn had been a small affair, outside of their home in the country. Family and close friends attended, no gaudy decorations or overly done flower arrangements were present despite Charlotte's pleas.
Oliver had been picked up as a Puddlemere United reserve, much to Ryn's pride. She had tried out for a position with the Holyhead Harpies two years later, successfully obtaining a Chaser position.
Two years after her marriage Brianne was working in an Apothecary as a consultant, doing what she loved and Joshua had a steady job as a translator for a shipping company that dealt in magical artifacts.
Charlotte was designing clothes, slowly but surely becoming a familiar name on the catwalks of the wizarding and muggle worlds of fashion alike. After Aderyn was hired by the Harpies she had been recommended to create the new team robes. She got a great amount of satisfaction at embroidering"Wood 19" on one of the dark green robes.
It had been four years after graduation and the wizarding world was at war. Harry Potter had gone into hiding and with each passing day Voldemort's power and control grew. How could the scrawny Seeker from fifth year be the key to restoring everything she had known?
Ryn was seated at the dining table with her favorite hazelnut coffee going cold in her hands.
"It's going to be alright Rinni." Oliver assured her, rubbing her shoulders.
"I'll fight, if it comes to that." She said, toying with the Golden Snitch charm on her necklace. She hadn't taken it off since he had given it to her when they were 16.
He tilted her face up and kissed her, "I know. So will I."