The world was fuzzy as I finally came to. Everything, my entire body, was throbbing. I blinked a few times as I tried to push myself up onto my elbows, but hands gently held me down.

Whoever was holding me down laughed softly. "You really shouldn't strain yourself," Oliver murmured softly.

When I looked up at him, brows furrowed, he smiled gently. "Don't look so confused," he said, "just lay back."

I did as instructed, my mind racing. Why was he here? Why was Oliver sodding Wood the first person I saw when I bloody woke up? What sick twist of fate was this?

His hand moved to rest near my head on the pillow as he stood over me. "Rue, I," he began, but closed his mouth. He seemed to be thinking over his words. "I wanted to apologise," he began slowly.

I raised my eyebrows, still groggy.

"For everything," he breathed as his other hand brushed my fringe to the side of my face. "I was wrong."

His dark brown eyes searched mine. As ridiculously cheesy as it may sound, I felt as though the ice that encased my heart was being warmed and melted away by the golden sun. Then I realised how gag-worthy that feeling was.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then an alert and very disheveled Sean barreled into the room, pushing Oliver out of the way.

"Rue, you gave us quite the scare!" Sean cried. "Your parents should be here soon."

I rolled my eyes. "Sean, I'm not a five year old," I said, as I tried to sit up. Oliver moved to hold me down again, but he stopped when Edward put a hand on his arm. "Mate, the team needs to have a little chat."

Edward turned to me as I settled back against the pillows. "How're you feeling?" he asked gently.

"Er, been better," I said with a shrug that immediately hurt. I hid my pain, though, with a quick wince. I'd rather not let on how I really felt physically. I tried to ignore the concerned look on Oliver's face.

Edward gave me a weak smile, "I'm really sorry about all this, and I hope you recover quickly. There will be repercussions for Bray, if that makes you feel any better."

The corners of my mouth lifted in a tight smile and Edward muttered a quick good-bye before he pulled Oliver out of the room.

Sean turned to me, "How do you really feel?"

"Like complete rubbish."

He sighed, running a hand through his pepper hair.

"Sean," I started slowly as I shifted underneath the bedsheets.

"Yeah?"

"This is the messiest I've ever seen your hair, and it doesn't even look half bad," I said sarcastically, though I had genuinely meant it.

He started to laugh before suddenly stopping, as if he realised laughing at such a time was taboo.

"Well, as far as your employment after this," he gestured to my general form as he searched for a word, "debacle, you're on two weeks paid leave and you will not be allowed to work in that time frame."

I bolted upright, my head spinning and a searing pain hitting my back, "What? No, you can't, but what about the Tudor research? I was really-"

"You can do your own research in the comfort of your own home, preferably in your own bed."

"This, this is-"

At that moment, my mother burst into the room. "Ach, mein Leibling!" she cried as she rushed to my bedside. My father followed closely behind her, trying to look nonchalant, but I could see the worry in his eyes. He shook hands with Sean as my mother fawned over me.

"I was just telling Rue that she is on paid leave for the next two weeks so she fully recovers," Sean said. "I'm very sorry this happened."

My father nodded, before turning to me. "Friedrich said you could stay at The Moorings because, ah," he gestured towards Mum as she hugged me and ran her hands over my face.

I flailed, trying to push her hands away, "Mum, Mum, Mum, I'm fine. Stop! You touching me is more painful than anything."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she gushed, tears in her eyes. "My poor baby, how could this have happened?" she cried before rounding on Sean.

"How could you endanger my daughter like this? Putting her in a situation where an obvious psychopath can take advantage of her vulnerability? She hasn't played Quidditch for years!"

Mum continued berating Sean as he shrunk back and tried to interject. Dad finally approached me, "You'll have to stay one more night, the healers want to keep an eye on you."

I nodded. "Makes sense."

"Do you want to press charges against this Bray woman?"

I sighed, "I'd rather just see what happens, but if you wouldn't mind starting up a file or something," I trailed off.

My father nodded, ever the professional. He gently squeezed my shoulder. "I'm going to get Mum out of here, but we'll be back in the morning. Klaus might stop by 'round dinnertime tomorrow."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead. I scowled as he pulled away, giving me a cheeky wink before he turned around.

"Elisabeth, c'mon, I think Sean's had enough for one day," my father said as he snaked his arm around Mum's waist and pulled her from the room.

A different dream, a twisted memory, the same golden Mirror of Erised.

Fifth year Rue, pulling that white sheet away in an overly-grandiose fashion. I could feel Oliver standing behind me, but that didn't matter as I was awe-struck by the reflection before me. Always the same disbelief and excitement.

There I was, the happiest I had ever seen myself. Nothing seemed particularly extraordinary, but I was beaming about something, or at someone as strong arms wrapped around me and pulled an older me to the side of the frame, exposing the crashing waves of the sea in the background. There was a beautiful ring on my left hand that could probably rival some of the Queen's jewels. Fifth year me was about to turn her attention to the man, but-

My eyes flew open, my heart pounding. No, that hadn't been right. But, then again, I had seen myself incandescently happy and with someone I loved when I had looked into the mirror for the first time seven years ago. I bit my lip, thinking it was at least something to that effect.

I shifted, trying to get comfortable again. I had visited the mirror shortly before graduation when I was torn between going to America with my uncle or trying to find work in the Ministry with my father's help. My reflection didn't show me sitting at a desk, but rather I was out in the field as my uncle had so spoiled me. And that Rue in the reflection was not at all concerned about the many friends and family she would be leaving. She was selfish and young and saw the world as her oyster. Nothing was going to stop her.

That's why I made the decision to leave. As much as I loved Oliver, I knew that I could only be truly happy if I left him, and so I did.

And look where I ended up.

In Saint Mungo's. A victim of a particularly brutal Cruciatus Curse. Unable to work for the next two weeks due to aforementioned maltreatment. All because of Oliver Wood's stupid, jealous, cheating whore of a girlfriend.

And that's when my blood began to boil.

I wanted to ruin Keira Bray.

Sorry for the shortness of this chapter and the one before it. I didn't want to post them as one whole chapter, because then it would've been too long for my liking. But here we are! Hope you enjoyed. As you know, J.K. Rowling owns the HP Universe, I own that which you don't recognize from it. It'd be quite lovely if you were kind enough to leave me a review! Yours.

PS: I was thinking of doing a small collection of canon/OC oneshots in the spirit of the holiday season. If you have any requests for canon characters, please leave me one in your review!