Chapter 25

When they arrived at Amelia's flat, a strange owl was waiting. Amelia took the letter from the bird and opened it. "Shit!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?" Oliver asked.

"I've been summoned to another meeting to discuss my future prospects in the healer training program," she replied.

"When is the meeting?"

"In an hour," she replied. "It's a good thing you're a morning person else I might have missed it."

"It's only because I was hoping to get into your knickers," he joked, pawing at her trousers.

"Funny," she said, dryly. "But, I really have to get dressed to go, so quit pawing." Oliver pouted, but did as she instructed and helped her choose something that would be appropriate to wear to the meeting, since for the last meeting she had worn a tank top and jeans.

Amelia got dressed and kissed Oliver quickly. "You'll be here when I get back?" she asked.

"Of course," he promised. "Now go and knock 'em dead."

Laughing, Amelia kissed Oliver once more and scrambled out the door. She made it to the head healer's office just in time. "I see you've received our owl," said Healer Jameson, who was waiting in the office.

"Yes," Amelia replied. "I returned today from my holiday travels."

"We called you in to discuss your future in this program, Ms. Clark," Healer Scott said. "We want to know what your intentions are as far as the program?"

Amelia felt as though she was having to interview for her position in the program all over again; the first interview was an experience she would rather have forgotten as she was incredibly nervous the entire time. "I'm not sure what you mean, Ma'am," Amelia answered.

"We mean," began Healer Scott, "what do you want to do, Miss Clark? Do you want to continue working in the training program?"

"All due respect, Ma'am, but why are you asking this now?" Amelia countered. "Are the other new trainees going through this interview?"

"Healer Ford has been questioning your dedication to the program for months now," Healer Jameson explained. "He has said that you act as though you don't wish to be here and he reported that you have applied to training programs with several Quidditch teams."

"I have considered changing my goals from hospital healing to something more with sporting," Amelia replied. "I haven't made any decisions as of yet."

"In that case, we want you to use the rest of your break to consider whether you want to come back," Healer Scott ordered. "If you are not going to come back fully committed to your training here, do not come back at all. You are dismissed."

Amelia nodded curtly and left. She knew Oliver would be waiting, but she wasn't ready to go home just yet. Instead, she apparated to her brother's flat. When she knocked, Brandon opened the door.

"What's going on, Ames? Oliver hasn't messed you about again, has he?" Brandon asked, menacingly.

"No, Bran," she replied. "Oliver and I are fine. I'm just having a bad day and I wasn't ready to see Oliver yet."

"So what has you looking like someone killed your cat?" Brandon asked.

"I got called into work today and they wanted to know if I really want to be in the program," she said. "And the truth is, I don't know." Amelia started to cry and Brandon sat her on the sofa; he motioned for his wife to call Oliver at Amelia's flat.

"So what makes you think you don't want to work there?"

"I hate it," she admitted. "I've hated it since August when it was made clear to me that I was useless and stupid. Then, when Oliver got hurt and I took care of him, I got into trouble for talking to him and going home with him when my shift ended. Just before Christmas a colleague called me a vile name in reference to the fact that you and the rest of the family are not magical."

"What's the worst that will happen if you take the next term off from school?" Brandon asked pointedly.

"I can apply to work with some sport teams and I won't finish my training," she said.

"What does Oliver say?" Amelia shrugged, but was startled when Oliver answered from the doorway.

"I've been telling her to do whatever she wants," Oliver said. "I have no problem with her taking some time off."

"How did you even know I was here?" she asked.

"Brandon had Maria call your flat and you showed me how to use your telephone," Oliver answered. He took the seat next to her that Brandon had just vacated. "Why didn't you call me?"

"I just wanted my brother," she said, with a shrug.

"Are you ready to come home?" Oliver rubbed her back and she nodded. He stood, grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the sofa, and into a hug.

"Thanks," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"Anytime, love," he promised.

Amelia thanked her brother and his wife and she and Oliver left, apparating out of the back yard. When they returned to her flat, Oliver insisted on making her tea and sat her down on the sofa. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked when he gave her the mug.

"They wanted to know whether I'm committed to working at St. Mungo's," she started. "It appears as though they managed to find out I had considered leaving and they don't want to waste time training healers who have no intention of sticking around. I have no idea what to even do, Ol."

"Don't make a decision right now," he suggested. "You have a few more days of break left. Let's enjoy them and you can make a decision later."

Amelia considered retorting that not knowing would only make it worse, but she didn't want to start a fight with Oliver, so she shrugged and went to unpack her bags, only to find that Oliver had already done it for her. She was slightly annoyed and changed into running clothes. She found Oliver in the sitting room. "Want to go for a run?" she asked, startling him. "Ha! I finally got you!"

"Very funny, and give me two minutes," he replied. Then, he leapt off the sofa and went to change. When he returned, they set out from her flat and took a run around her London neighborhood.

Half an hour later, they returned to her building from their run. "How long do you think that run was?" she asked, breathlessly.

"Probably 3 miles," Oliver replied, not quite as winded as Amelia.

"Why aren't you as winded?" she demanded.

"Because they make us run a lot at training," he explained. "And I have more stamina."

Amelia scoffed, "Then you can carry me up stairs." Then, she hopped on his back and made him carry her up to her flat. He laughed, but obliged her and ignored the stares from her neighbor as they giggled their way to her flat.

He opened the door and deposited her on the sofa. He leaned over her to kiss her, but stumbled and fell on her, landing in a heap. "Oomph!" she exclaimed. "Why did you do that?"

"Sorry, love," he said, sheepishly. "I was just trying to kiss you."

"And you're doing a shit job about it," she scolded, with a grin. "Now get off me and do a better job of it."

"But I'm in a perfect position here," he said, quietly; he stared at her mouth and she licked her lips. He opened his mouth slightly and leaned in to kiss her. She tangled her hands in his hair and pulled him close. He let her snog him for quite a few minutes before he pulled back.

"Love, I'm perfectly happy to continue this, but I don't think you are," he said.

"What makes you say that, Ol?" she asked, straightening her shirt.

"Because I know you, Ames," he replied. "Why don't you have a shower and a tea?"

"Fine," she sighed. "Will you be joining me?"

"I don't think I should," he protested. "I want to, but you don't need sex right now."

"Prude," she mumbled and trotted off to her shower. When she finished, she went to the kitchen and found a note from Oliver. He had gone out for a bit, but promised to be back later. Sighing, Amelia retreated to her favorite window to watch the snow fall. She was still sitting there when Oliver returned.

"How long have you been staring out the window?" he asked.

"Since I got out of the shower," she replied, quietly.

"This whole St. Mungo's thing has you really freaked out, doesn't it?"

"Why should it?" she snapped. "It's only my entire future and I haven't a clue what to do about it."

"Ames, I'm only trying to help," Oliver said.

"I know, but I don't think you can help me," she conceded. "I just don't know what to do."

"Come with me to Puddlemere," he offered. "Just for a few days. You can get away from London and St. Mungo's and every bad memory you have of the place and clear your head."

"We just got back from several days away," she argued.

"And we haven't been to my flat in months," he reasoned. "Come on. Let's go to Puddlemere."

"Fine, but in the morning. I'm tired and you need a shower," she teased. Oliver agreed and went to shower while Amelia made them sandwiches for dinner. Once they had eaten, they curled up together on her sofa and put on the telly. Amelia fell asleep leaning on Oliver. He gently got off the sofa and carried her to her bed. Then, he curled up next to her and fell asleep.

Amelia woke a few hours later and wriggled out of Oliver's arms. She tiptoed to the sitting room and took up her favorite spot in the window. She sat there for a few hours considering what she wanted to do with St. Mungo's. Part of her wanted to stick it out and finish, but a bigger part of her wanted to quit because she knew that she would never be happy there and that Healer Jameson and Dylan would make her life miserable. Accepting that, she knew what she was going to do and with that decision made, she went into her room and woke Oliver.

"Oy," she said, poking him in the side.

"Bugger all," he moaned. "What time is it?"

"3:00 AM," she answered. "Wake up."

"No. Sleep," he said.

"I've made a decision," she prodded.

Oliver rolled onto his back and looked at her. He waited for her to say something, but she simply smirked at him. "What?"

"Your hair is sticking up at an odd angle," she giggled.

"Really, Ames," he scolded. "You just woke me up. Now, what decision have you made?"

"I think we should consider looking at flats closer to Puddlemere," she said.

"You're leaving?"

"I know it's not what you expected, and part of me doesn't want to quit since I worked so hard to get in," she explained. "But, another part of me, the stronger part, knows that I've been miserable since the summer and Healer Jameson and Dylan take pleasure in making my life hell. I think I need to quit to keep my sanity."

Oliver kissed her soundly and when they broke apart, he said, "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I'll support whatever decision you make. Besides, this way, perhaps you could work for Puddlemere. We always need good trainers."

Amelia smiled and leaned back in to kiss Oliver again. She grasped at his shirt and broke their kiss to pull it over his head. He returned the favor and tossed her shirt across the room. Twenty minutes later, Amelia retrieved Oliver's shirt and pulled it over her head. Then, she lay with him and went to sleep.