Chapter 11

When Amelia returned from her run, there was a note from Oliver waiting. She took it from her mother and went to her room to read what Oliver had written. She plopped onto her bed and was about to start reading when her mother burst in. "What has gotten into you?" Camilla demanded.

"Bugger all, Mum," Amelia shouted. "I could have been changing. Knock before entering."

"Don't take that tone with me, Amelia," Camilla ordered. "Now, tell me what is going on that has you all upset."

"It's nothing that I didn't know was coming, Mum," Amelia replied. "It's just happening sooner than anticipated."

"What's happening?"

"Oliver is moving to Puddlemere to play professional quidditch. I knew this was coming and I knew he wasn't coming back to school, but it's happening on August 1, which is sooner than either of us planned," Amelia explained. "Now, I'm going to read my letter and shower before dinner." Camilla didn't want to leave, but Amelia shoved her out of her room and locked the door.

Then, she flopped back down onto her bed and read Oliver's letter. It said,

Ames,

I'm sorry this is happening so fast. I didn't expect it either. We both knew that this was coming. I'm ready to talk whenever you are. Just send a note back and I'll apparate over. Perhaps later tonight we could go back to your tree house?

I know that this is hard for you; it's hard for me too and I don't want to leave anymore than you want me to leave. Just tell me what you need me to do, whether it's give you space or apparate over now and spend the night in your bedroom. (Please pick the apparate over now option. I'd rather not bugger off, but I will if you tell me to.)

Please, Amelia, tell me what to do here. This is completely foreign territory for me. I wish I knew what you were thinking. Just promise me that you'll talk to me and soon.

I'm waiting your reply.

All my love,
Oliver

By the time she finished reading the letter, which was difficult given Oliver's indecipherable writing and the tears Amelia was fighting, she had stopped fighting the tears and let them come. She laughed at his begging to let him come over and was inclined to send a note back right away telling him to do just that, but she decided to wait until she'd showered and changed for tea before doing anything.

While in the shower, Amelia was contemplating what had transpired and couldn't believe that everything was happening so quickly. She wasn't happy that Oliver was moving, but it was still only early July, which gave them a month of being near to each other. And, Oliver could apparate, which meant he could see her frequently.

Then there was the voice in her head that knew that Oliver would be incredibly busy when he went to Puddlemere, and in the weeks leading up to the move. He would have to find housing and get everything packed and ready. She had hoped that he would attend her brother's wedding the following weekend, but she worried that he wouldn't be able to and decided not to ask.

When she got dressed, she sent a quick reply to Oliver, telling him that she got his note, had read it and was going to owl the next day. Then, she ate dinner with her parents and brothers.

When Oliver arrived home earlier than expected, his father demanded an explanation. "I told her about moving," Oliver answered. He was going to drop it, but his father gave him a look, so he added, "She didn't take it well."

"Send her an owl and offer to give her space and time to think about things, Oliver," Edward suggested. "She's young and scared."

"I'm scared, too, Da, but she doesn't seem to get it," Oliver reasoned. "I don't want to move this quickly anymore than she wants me to, but I've been told I have to if I'm going to play."

"And if she forces you to choose, Oliver, what will you do?" Edward left Oliver to consider his words. Oliver had never thought that Amelia would force him to choose between her and quidditch; she had even encouraged his play and helped with tactics. Oliver went to his room and wrote Amelia a letter. Then, he waited for her reply.

It seemed like hours before Amelia's owl started pecking at Oliver's window. He let the bird in and took the letter. She didn't give him a chance to reply before she swept through the open window and flew off into the evening. He was slightly disappointed when he read the note; he had been hoping for her to invite him back over.

He grudgingly went to bed early, convinced that Amelia would do as promised and wait until the morning to contact him. He was, therefore, highly surprised when he got back to his room and found her owl waiting for him with a letter. He took the letter from the bird and opened the seal and began to read. She wrote,

Oliver,

I'm sorry about earlier. I guess it didn't occur to me that you would be completely freaked out by everything too. I needed time to think; honestly, I still need time to think. I don't know what happens next as this is entirely new territory for me too. You're the first real boyfriend I've ever actually had and it just hurts that we won't be together next year. I know that it's not your fault anymore than it is mine.

I'm not ready to tell you to bugger off yet, but I'm not inviting you over tonight either. I think it's best if we wait until the planned dinner on Friday before we see each other again. That is not to say that you shouldn't write. I would like to hear from you and (try) to read your thoughts on everything.

What is it like on your end, going to Puddlemere? Are you scared? Excited? You're impossible to read and I don't know whether that's good or bad because I can never tell what you're thinking. You're not the kind of bloke who wears his heart on his sleeve and that frightens me.

Write me back, soon.

Love,
Amelia

Oliver read the letter 6 more times before he went to bed. He was trying to decipher his own feelings about moving to Puddlemere when he drifted off to sleep. He woke to a knock on his door.

"Ollie," Jane called. "You have a visitor, and it's late. Get out of bed. You're not sleeping your summer away again."

"I'm up, Mum," Oliver answered. He looked at the clock and noticed it was nearly 10:00 AM, which was really late for him. He pulled on some trousers and a shirt and went downstairs. He was not expecting to see Amelia sitting in his living room, laughing with his dad.

"I wasn't expecting to see you until Friday," he said, startling both his father and Amelia.

"I would have called, but you don't have a phone," she explained. Edward made his excuses and left them alone in the sitting room. "I'm sorry about yesterday and I rethought what I wrote in my letter."

"About what?" Oliver was completely confused.

"About simply writing back and forth for the next 3 days," she answered. "I know that I can't really read your emotions on your face, but that doesn't mean I can't hear it in your voice, so I chanced that you would speak to me and came to visit."

"Do your parents know where you are?"

"Mum was right pissed about it, but I didn't ask permission. I used my own money for the train ticket, but I have to be on the train back to Leeds tonight," she replied. "Can we go somewhere, where it's just the 2 of us?"

"Yeah," he promised. "I could take you for tea." She nodded and let Oliver grab whatever he needed. He told his parents he was taking Amelia for breakfast and that they should expect he'd be gone all day. His father cast him a knowing glance, but said nothing further.

Oliver led the pair through the streets of East Kilbride until they reached his favorite bakery. "The scones here are great," he promised. He ordered for both of them while Amelia found a booth in the back. Oliver set her tea and a scone in front of her. "How did you know I was hungry?" she teased.

"Love, I was raised to always bring a treat for a lady if I'm out with her," he joked. Then, the conversation turned more serious. "All joking aside, Ames, we came here to talk, so let's talk. What scares you most?"

"Why do you get to ask the first question?" she asked, but Oliver gave her a pointed look and refused to speak until she answered the question. "I'm scared that you'll figure out that I'm not worth it and I'll get a letter detailing the break-up in your illegible handwriting. Or worse, I'll just get a note that says it was fun, but it's over. I'm scared that you'll move to Puddlemere and forget that I even exist. I'm scared that my parents will figure out that somewhere I fell in love with you and they won't let me see you again, or that your parents will decide I'm not worth your time and forbid you from seeing me."

"Do you really think I would do that to you?" Oliver asked.

"I didn't say that my fears were rational, Ol, but you asked what I fear the most," she said. "What are your fears?"

"That someone will come along who will sweep you off your feet and I won't be there to interfere," he said. She was going to interject, but he waved her off. "I'm scared that I'll find out I'm terrible at quidditch and be left with nothing else to do. I'm scared that I'll get hurt and won't be able to play. I'm scared that you'll send me an owl saying that you're leaving for America or Argentina, or anywhere else and I won't be able to stop you from going."

"You really worry about all that?"

"Yes," he answered. "And that's only the tip of the iceberg, Ames. I try to play confident, but I'm a mess, really."

Amelia giggled at Oliver and he scolded her, "All that and you laugh at me?"

"I'm not laughing at you, Oliver," she replied. "I promise. But what are we going to do? We're both, apparently, terribly insecure."

"We'll come up with a plan," Oliver promised. "I've been promising you this for months. I'll apparate away for your birthday and then we'll be at the World Cup together with my parents, but separate tents."

"We're staying in our own tent?" Amelia asked.

"I've spoken to my parents and they've agreed that we can stay in our own tent," he answered, "but that's not why we're here. So, let's work out a plan and put both of us at ease."

They spent several hours at the bakery, and drank more tea than either had bargained for, but they finally had a plan. "So, I'll be in Hogsmeade every other weekend until the season ends and then every weekend after that," Oliver promised.

"And we'll have frequent owls and even some evening floo chats," Amelia replied.

"Does this ease your mind?"

"Yes," she said. "Let's get the bloody hell out of here. They've been giving us dirty looks for hours."

"I don't know why," Oliver reasoned. "We both ate twice and had more tea than necessary." In spite of his protests, Oliver took Amelia's hand and led her back into the street. "What time does the last train leave?"

"9:00 tonight," Amelia answered. "And I've been told that I have to be on it or I'll be grounded for the rest of summer."

"We'll make sure that you're home on time," Oliver promised. "If necessary, I'll take you by side along apparition. What would you like to do now?"

"This," she said, smirking, and leapt into his arms, kissing him fully.

He broke the kiss after a few moments and set her down. Then, he said, "Perhaps we could find a better location to do that some more." Amelia looked around and noticed that several people were staring. She blushed and snuggled as close to Oliver as possible. He pulled away, took her hand, and led her down the street.

He led her all the way to an elementary school that had a playground. "Since we did this the other night," he said, "I thought we'd do it again." He suggested that Amelia sit on a swing so that he could push her. They spent an hour on the playground, swinging and laughing like children.

Finally, Amelia said, "Is this all we're going to do today?"

"We could do other things," Oliver answered, angling himself closer to Amelia. He was about to lean in and kiss her when he heard some children giggling nearby. "Perhaps, though, we should do those other things somewhere else."

"Good idea," Amelia laughed. She took Oliver's hand and let him lead her back through the town. He found them a nook that was fairly secluded and backed her up against the wall before kissing her soundly. She kissed back, running her hands through his hair. Oliver moved his hand down to her rear and squeezed.

"Cheeky," she scolded, breaking the kiss.

"Always," he promised, smirking.

"I want you," she said, taking a far more serious tone.

"I want you, too," he replied, breathless. "Come with me." He took her hand further into the alley and apparated them to a secluded meadow.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"It's where I used to play quidditch as a kid," he answered. "Just over that hill is my house. See?" She looked and nodded. She could just make out the roof of Oliver's house over the next hill.

"Will anyone disturb us here?"

"No," he promised. "And I've made no promises to my dad about today." He waved his wand and a blanket appeared on the ground. He sat on the blanket and tugged her hand, pulling her into his lap.

Amelia kissed Oliver tenderly; he laid her on the blanket and hovered over her. Amelia's breath caught in her throat and her hands were trembling as she grasped at Oliver's shirt and pulled it over his head. He tugged at her shirt and pulled it over her head. He caressed her breast gently over the fabric of her bra. She moaned softly and reached for his belt…

As they lay together in the afternoon sun, Amelia rolled over to Oliver and said, "Can you come to my house for the weekend next weekend?"

"Shouldn't be a problem," Oliver answered. "Why?"

"My brother's getting married and I'll need a date," Amelia answered. "So, will you be my date and save me from the throngs of randy football players?"

"You know I can never resist a rescue mission," he teased. "Of course I'll be your date." Oliver looked at his watch and sat up, pulling his trousers back on and retrieving his shirt. Amelia gave him a dirty look, but wiggled back into her trousers as well.

"I don't want to leave, but we have to eat before we make sure you get the last train," Oliver explained.

"I know," she sighed. "I don't want to leave either, but if I don't, Mum will never let me out of the house again." They finished dressing and Oliver helped her up. Then, he walked her back to town so that they could have tea before she got on the train back to Leeds.