Chapter 23
Amelia was staring in disbelief when Dylan smacked her on the back. "What is it now? Your boyfriend's dad?" he snarled.
"No," she replied. "But I went to school with his sons and they're good people."
"Nothing but blood traitors," Dylan mumbled.
"You realize I'm muggle born, right?" Amelia countered. She was tending to Mr. Weasley and Dylan was awestruck.
"You're a mudblood?"
"No, I'm a muggle born," she corrected. She returned to examining Mr. Weasley and collecting samples of the venom dripping from his wounds. She took the samples out of the room and left Dylan and the other healers still puzzling over Mr. Weasley.
When she returned, Mrs. Weasley was in the hallway. "Mrs. Weasley?" she said.
"Yes," Molly replied. "Do I know you?"
"Probably not, but I know your sons. I was a Gryffindor," Amelia said. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Do you know what's going on with Arthur?" Molly asked.
"I've taken some samples of the venom to the laboratory and now we're just waiting to see what comes back," Amelia answered. "We're keeping him going with regular blood replenishing potions."
"Thank you, dear," Molly said. "You're the first person who hasn't tried to patronize me. What's your name, dear?"
"Amelia Clark," she replied. "I was a year ahead of your twins. They're 2 of my best friends."
Amelia was going to elaborate further, but Healer Jameson came out of Arthur's room and demanded that she follow him. Once they were alone, he began to yell at her, telling her she had no business speaking to Mrs. Weasley about Arthur's condition and making her panic.
"Sir," Amelia defended. "I didn't make Mrs. Weasley any more worried than she was. Perhaps if you told family members what was going on with their loved ones, they'd be less scared about things. I was only trying to help her because her children are my friends."
"You were warned months ago and, while you're no longer on probation, your position in this program can still be terminated," Healer Jameson warned. "You're dismissed and your shift is over."
Amelia huffed and returned home. It was one of the few nights that Oliver was not planning to be at her flat, and she was a bit sad about that. She floo called him and asked him to come over. "Please, Ol," she begged. "I've had a shit day and I could really use a back rub."
"I'll be right over," he promised.
Only a few minutes after Amelia had pulled her head out of the floo, she heard Oliver knocking on her door. "For you," he said, handing her some ice cream.
"Does it freak you out at all that you know me so well?" she teased, taking the ice cream (chocolate) from Oliver and grabbing a spoon.
"No, it doesn't freak me out. Does it freak you out?" He sat on the sofa and motioned for Amelia to sit in front of him. She sat and he massaged her shoulders.
"Sometimes," she admitted. "But, then I tell you I've had a shit day and you come over with ice cream."
"So, what made it a shit day?"
"Mr. Weasley was hurt," she answered. "I saw Mrs. Weasley waiting in the hall, pacing nervously, so I spoke to her. Apparently I'm not allowed to speak to family members because telling them the truth is bad. Also, I'm a mudblood."
"Don't say that filthy word," Oliver ordered. "And where did you hear it?"
"Dylan," she sighed. "He said the Weasleys were nothing but blood traitors and I told him I'm muggle born. He said it."
"Have you given any more thought to just taking the next term off and getting into a training program with a team next year?" He was almost begging her and they had been discussing her future for weeks.
"I have," she said. "I'm worried that if I quit, I won't want to go back. I can last for 1 more term with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
"I have no idea what that even means," he laughed.
"It's a muggle thing," she promised. "I'll get you a copy of the book."
"Christmas is coming up fast," he joked. "Now, you should get to bed."
"Are you staying?"
"Are you asking me to?" he replied.
"Yes," she said. She let him pull her up from the floor and led him to her room, after putting the remaining ice cream in her freezer.
The next day, Oliver kissed her goodbye on the forehead before apparating away to meet his father for a day of Christmas shopping. "What are you getting Amelia?" he asked.
"I haven't the foggiest," Oliver admitted. "I thought about jewelry, but I'm worried it'll be too much for her."
"Don't get her jewelry that comes with any strings if you're not sure, Oliver," Edward suggested. "Try something like a necklace or locket."
"That's what I got her last year," Oliver said. "I got her a quaffle charm that she still wears every day."
The pair was wandering around East Kilbride when Oliver noticed a poster for a ballet. Amelia had been hinting for weeks that she wanted to go to a ballet and had never been. So, he went and bought tickets for the show a few days after Christmas.
While Oliver and his dad were out shopping, Amelia was out shopping for a gift for Oliver. She went to a rare book store and bought him a copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as she had promised. She also bought gifts for his parents, since she would be seeing them over the holidays. When she finished her shopping excursion, she barely had enough time to drop her purchases off at her flat before returning to St. Mungo's for her next shift.
When she arrived, she did not expect to see Fred and George in the hall. "Oy! Weasleys!" she called.
They looked up and smiled at her, but it wasn't their normal smiles. She strode over to them and pulled, first Fred, and then George into very tight hugs. "How are you doing?"
"We've been better," Fred said. "You?"
"I can't complain," she replied. "Any word on your dad yet?"
"No," George answered. "We're still waiting. How did you know he was here?"
"I was working when he was brought in last night," she admitted. "I'll just nip down to the lab to see if they've got anything. I'll be back soon." She went to the lab, but when she returned, she didn't have any news to share with the twins. Then, Healer Jameson kept her working on other cases for several hours. When her shift finished, she went back to Mr. Weasley's room to visit with the twins again before she left.
She found that Mr. Weasley was doing remarkably well and that some of the potions seemed to be working. Fred and George were in much better spirits when she left the hospital.
Since it was almost Christmas Eve and she was going to be on break until January, Amelia stopped by her flat, collected the things she would need and apparated to Oliver's flat where they had planned to meet. "We should assume that my parents will make you sleep in my brother's room," Amelia said. "They'll never let us sleep together, at least not until we're married."
"I expected as much," Oliver replied. "Do you have everything?"
"Yes."
"Then, let's get going," he suggested. "We don't want your parents waiting too long." She nodded and grabbed his arm to apparate them to Leeds.
When they arrived, Camilla greeted them at the door. "Darling, it's been far too long since you've been home," she scolded Amelia.
"I know Mum, but I've been busy," Amelia replied. Camilla scowled at Amelia until Oliver came to her rescue.
"It's true, Mrs. Clark," he interjected. "I've had a hard time keeping up with her myself and I'm in the off season now."
Amelia and Oliver were allowed to go and put their bags away before they were expected to rejoin the family. As expected, Oliver was assigned Brandon's room, since he and his wife were not going to be there until Boxing Day. Amelia didn't tell her mother that she had seen Brandon and his wife the weekend before so that they could have a small Christmas together; nor did she tell her that Brandon had given Oliver his nod of approval. Camilla had been somewhat cold to Oliver since April, but held her tongue for Amelia's sake.
After placing their bags in their rooms, Amelia and Oliver were expected to join the rest of the gathering family in the sitting room. Amelia's youngest brother, Jack, had arrived home from Oxford the day before and Mike and Jaime were set to arrive any minute. "Oliver, you remember Jack," Amelia said. "He's studying at Oxford."
"Good to see you again, Jack," Oliver said, shaking his hand.
"Likewise, Oliver," Jack replied. "How's that sport you play?"
"Good," Oliver answered. "We're in the off-season until March, so I've been free for a few weeks."
Jack pulled Oliver aside and whispered, menacingly, "Look, mate, I know Amelia really likes you and may even love you, but if you mess her about again, I will mangle you in ways you can only imagine. I'm studying medicine at Oxford and will be able to use a scalpel soon."
"Fair enough," Oliver said, sensing that arguing would only lead to bad things. He had no intention of getting on the bad side of any of Amelia's brothers, and Jack, who was the tallest and strongest of all of them, was the last of them that Oliver wanted to tangle with.
Mike and Jaime arrived together, having taken the same train from Manchester. They piled into the sitting room and pulled Oliver aside as well. "Mate," Mike started.
"We wanted to talk to you," Jaime continued.
"Lads, if you're going to threaten my life if I mess your sister about, you've missed that party," Oliver defended. "I have no intention of messing her about."
"We just wanted to warn you that Jack was planning to threaten you," Mike said. "It appears as though our youngest brother works rather fast."
"Yeah, mate," Jaime added. "Brandon filled us in on his conversations with you. I think he tried to reach Jack but either Brandon didn't reach him or Jack didn't listen."
"Besides," Mike continued. "We trust Amelia's judgment and her ability to beat you senseless should the need arise. We've taught her well."
"I know," Oliver joked. "She's managed to pin me more than once while we were wrestling."
"Too much, mate," Jaime said. "We don't want to hear about you shagging our little sister."
"I'll keep that in mind," Oliver promised. They were about to continue, but Amelia joined them. The talk soon turned to sports and Jaime and Mike were infuriated to hear that Amelia was giving up on her goal of playing football for the English national team. Amelia reminded them that she hadn't played for a recognized team in years, so getting on the national team was a long shot anyway.
"Besides," she concluded, "this way, I can watch you lot play." Jaime and Mike seemed to be content with Amelia's response.
After dinner that night, Amelia and Oliver took a walk together. "Are you planning to tell me what you got me for Christmas?" she asked, pouting.
"Pouting will not get you an answer," Oliver said. "You'll just have to wait until tomorrow."
"You are absolutely no fun," she groaned.
"And yet you're still with me," he teased. "Come on. I'll give you a piggy back ride back to your house." He bent over and let her leap onto his back. While Oliver carried Amelia back to her house, she nuzzled his ear, prompting him to stop momentarily and set her down.
"You have no idea what you're doing to me," he warned.
"Don't I?" she teased. "Oliver, I know exactly what I'm doing."
"And you realize that tonight we're at your parents' house and in separate bedrooms and then tomorrow night we're at my parents' house and in separate bedrooms."
"And then after that, we're at your flat in your bed," she finished.
"It could be our flat and our bed," he said.
"I know and I'll give you an answer tomorrow," she promised. "We'll find a minute alone because I'm fairly certain that my parents won't allow me to live with you."
"Fair enough," he said. He kissed her deeply before having her leap back onto his back and carrying her back home.
The next morning, Oliver woke early and snuck into Amelia's room. He almost didn't see her, snuggled underneath her blankets. He only noticed her when she snorted and rolled over. He chuckled to himself and went to wake her up. "Morning, love," he whispered.
"Go away," she whined.
"It's time to get up," he sang.
"Oliver, either go away or get in with me," she ordered. She moved over and let Oliver climb into her bed with her to snuggle before it was time to get up. All would have been fine, if Jack had not barged in to wake Amelia while she was snogging Oliver. Jack began to shout, which resulted in Amelia's entire family piling into her room. Jaime and Mike started laughing uncontrollably while her mother and father shoved everyone out of her room.
"I don't know what you're playing at, Amelia," Camilla scolded, "but this behavior will not be tolerated."
"Bloody hell, Mum," Amelia cried. "We've been here for all of 5 minutes. Oliver came to wake me up since he likes to open his presents early. Nothing happened that we won't tell you about."
Camilla gave them both a glare, but didn't argue the issue with Amelia or Oliver. They joined the rest of the family in the sitting room where Jack was shouting at Mike and Jaime over, what he called, their nonchalance towards Amelia and Oliver snogging in her bed. "Jack, let it go," Joseph warned. "Amelia is a grown woman now and is capable of making her own choices."
"Now that that's settled, let's get to presents," Camilla offered.
Jack sat in a huff, glaring daggers at Amelia and Oliver for the rest of the morning. When Amelia opened Oliver's present, she squealed with delight. "You got me ballet tickets?"
"Yes," he answered. "You can take anyone you want."
"So you're coming to the ballet with me?"
"If you want me to," he promised. "And I certainly hope that you want me to."
"I do," she replied. "I've always wanted to go to the ballet."
Oliver smirked to himself and silently patted himself on the back for a job well done. He knew she had wanted to see the ballet and was glad that he could take her. Then, Amelia handed Oliver his present. He was thrilled that she got him the book she had promised him, and surprised that she got what appeared to be a very old copy of it.
After presents were finished, the family ate breakfast together, as was their tradition. Brandon called while they were eating and asked Oliver, "Has she answered yet?"
"No," Oliver replied.
"Are my brothers listening to your end of the conversation?" Brandon asked.
"Yes," Oliver answered.
"Fair enough, but don't let her slide. Ask her again before the end of the holidays and tell her you have my blessing," Brandon ordered.
"Of course, Bran," Oliver said. "I'd love to tell you about quidditch soon." Oliver handed the phone to Mike who smirked knowingly when he finally hung up the phone.
Mike called Oliver over and whispered, "Brandon told me about your plan with Amelia. Don't look so freaked out, mate. We approve and we'll help if she agrees."
"Cheers, Mike," Oliver said. "Now we just have to convince your sister."