Edward-Oliver

Edward-Oliver Wood was too formal of a name, he had never liked it. It belonged in a time now seen as recent history and the memories that always attached themselves to it. The name wasn't his, but that of his Father's, and thus Edward-Oliver always felt overshadowed by it. He had made it quite clear that everyone at school call him either Oliver or Wood, so that he would have a fresh start with a new identity that was purely his. Edward was left for family use only now.

Edward breathed a sigh of relief to be on the train. From the familiar smell of leather protruding from the seats, to the buzz of excitement in the air, he had missed the sense of normality he got from being at Hogwarts. He had purposely chosen the compartment he was resigned in, battered and old it was always the carriage that was chosen last, partially because of the walk to the front of the train. Hidden in plain sight Edward enjoyed the isolation, relieved that he wasn't having to make forced conversation.

Closing his eyes, he relaxed into his seat, concentrating on the commotion of different voices coming from outside the train window. It was such a human thing to do, he couldn't resist a humorous grin. He enjoyed pretending to be human a little bit too much. The image of his sister Alice started to circulate around his head, her departing look coming back to taunt him. She had only been gone less than ten minutes and already the little pixie had managed to manipulate his trail of thought.

"It's for your own good Edward, please don't ask me any more questions and stop trying to read my mind."

That is what she had said to him when he pressed her with questions earlier. Her words perturbed him 'for your own good' what did that even mean? And why couldn't she share what was making her so impatiently excited?
A small smile tugged on the corner of his mouth as he thought about how she was acting on the platform. Alice had practically been jumping up and down on the station platform standing on tip toe and craning her neck towards the entrance.

"Who are you looking for?" Edward asked amusement laced in his voice.

"Nobody" Alice answered innocently. "I just like looking at what people are wearing." Turning her head towards him with her lamp like eyes.

"In that case, you won't mind if I get on the train earlier then scheduled then would you? I need to gather my thoughts before the long journey."

It was a ploy from Edward, he wanted to know what Alice was doing and he knew this would rattle her cage.

"Huh? What.. Wait! No you can't!" Genuine shock planted onto her face. "You promised you would wait here for Fred and George." Alice whined, her eyes locking onto Edward's pleading.

"And they are late" Edward said smoothly, inwardly hiding how he was finding her reaction even more amusing than before.

"Give yourself…." Alice scrunched her face in concentration "two minutes, the twins are nearly here."

"Oooor" Edward purposely elongated the word for effect. "I could meet them on the train? They are big boys and don't need me to hold their hands."

"But you promised, you promised you would wait here for them."

"What is with you today?" Edward smirked. "Has this got something to do with why you are blocking me reading you?"

Alice just wiggled her eyebrows, she had caught on to his tactics and there was no way she was giving in that easily. *Nice Try* she thought.
Edward had had enough, he was more than happy to play the long game with Alice and wait it out until Christmas to find out what she was hiding. She was the one that normally burst and told him sooner rather than later by letter anyhow, secrets were never her forte.

"Ill see you at Christmas Pixie" Edward chuckled, ducking down to her height and engulfing her into a hug. "Angelina is coming this way and I can't handle another quidditch chat up line this early on into the year."

Snorts came from Edwards shoulder, clearly Alice found that comment amusing. Slowly releasing from the brotherly hug she said;

"I will be writing to you daily to find out exactly what happens this term, and I mean everything." Alice's expression fixed and stern.
Edward frowned as started to examine Alice's final words. Nothing had happened so far in his three years at Hogwarts that he would deem writable and she had never demanded a request like this before, what was she up too?
Half tempted to send her an owl instantly to demand the truth, it was only the distraction of the twins voices coming into his trail of thoughts that stopped him.
Still down the other end of the platform, they had just been told they couldn't blow up a Hogwarts toilet for their younger sister by Mrs Wesley. Edward chuckled as he eavesdropped, their Mother was now scolding them for their earlier prank in the pub toilet. The bizarreness of the conversation distracted Edward, Alice for now forgotten.

A few Minutes passed by, the earlier buzz of excitement had to changed into mass panic as the last few students now rushed to get onto the train in time. There was a loud, single, shrill whistle that came from behind Edward insinuating the final call before the train would depart. Moments later there was a slight tugging notion and the gentle chugging noise as the train slowly made its way out the station.
The compartment door opened and Edward was met with the two lanky, slightly scruffy looking Weasley twins and Lee Jordan, their close friend and alley.

"Are you sure that is was him?" Lee asked Fred

"Asked him myself and I saw his scar" replied Fred very proudly.

"Wow, I've never met a celebrity before. Do you think he would give me an autograph?"

"Lee, really?" Edward accused, an eyebrow raised. "The boy is eleven years old and only found out he was a wizard a month ago."

"Really?" Lee asked intrigued. "Can you see him?" Tapping his head as he spoke.

"I'm not going to try and focus on him?" Edward replied a hint of disgust evident in his voice. "The poor kid has got enough on his plate without me encroaching in his personal space."

"Doesn't stop you doing it to us." Lee muttered

"Its not as if you have anything worth while reading either." Edward replied amused. Even if I couldn't read your mind Lee, there are not a lot of people out there that have a scar worth mentioning. Call it an educated guess."

Lee opened his mouth to respond, but he couldn't think of a retort quick enough. Instead he silently looked out the window, chewing his lip in frustration.

*Ollie?* George thought quietly. *Lee is a little more tetchy than usual, Katie Bell just turned him down…again.*

Edward smiled at the nickname, he hadn't heard it in 6 whole weeks, he turned and looked at George a subtle nod in his direction. George warmly beamed back.

"I'm sorry Lee, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's been a frustrating summer and I just took all my frustration out on you, and for that I am sorry."

Lee shuffled in his seat, looking over at Edward with a curious stare.

"Your seriously going to tell me a summer with hot babe vampires was exhausting? Dude you are having a laugh."

Edward wrinkled his nose, the thought of the "hot vampires" now in his head.

"Ahhhh, the famous Tanya." George nodded in understanding, wriggling his eyebrows at Edward.

"Now which one is Tanya again?" Lee asked tucking into his lunch, filling the carriage full of the smell of tuna.

"You know, the blonde one who want to 'get-it-on' with Ollie?" George grinned using one hand to simulate an okay sign, and sticking his index finger through the 'O' shape with the other.

"Aaaaand she never seems to take no for an answer" Fred joined in grinning like a hyena, winking at Edward. "Because Mr Wood here is playing hard to get."

"Ahh her! Didn't you say she was hot?" Lee looked at Edward puzzled.

"I said she was pretty."

Edward replied stiffly, not liking where the conversation was heading. He had been avoiding Tanya all summer, the last thing he wanted was the whole train journey to be eaten up with just talking about her.

"Then what's the problem, even if you don't like her, she isn't actually your cousin, its an adoptive relationship. Why don't you practice a couple of kissing techniques with her and see how far you get?" Lee responded ferociously.

Lee was on the edge of his seat at this point, looking at Edward like he was a mad man, a little bit of Tuna sandwich stuck to his right cheek. Edwards eyes subtly glanced at the leftover lunch before looking around at Fred and George.

"Lee you cannot be serious" scoffed Edward "That is a complete disregard for women and you know it, you have a sister yourself, show some respect."

"And it's not like he hasn't got a line of girls wanting to get into his pants here anyway" Fred said pretending to be thinking hard, stroking his fingers across his chin.

"Missing my point entirely there Fred." Edward said sucking in air at the end.

"Alright Oliver, in all seriousness, if Tanya has this 'lovely personality' and is 'pretty' why can't you give her a chance?" George asked almost seriously.

"She isn't brunette."

A small smile tugged on Edwards lips, he was at least being truthful in his taste, even if he was purposely avoiding the conversation.

"Angelina is brunette and that's a defiant no." Fred chuckled. "I dunno, the guy looks like a Greek God and he isn't interested in anyone" Fred said to the other two boys "Typical huh?"

"Its not as simple as your making it out to be." Edward retorted.

"Then you need explain mate. We're only teasing because we are all jealous of your attention with the ladies. I seriously think you have turned down every eligible girl available."

Edward sighed again, Looking openly at his three true friends.

"I'll try to explain." Edward nodded.

He faced the window, the landscape half hidden by the steam which danced in the wind.

"I don't feel like I am needing that kind of companionship." Edward said bluntly.

The boys giving each other confused glances as he continued.

"I have been alone for such a long time now and surprisingly I'm happy being alone too. At Hogwarts I have you guys and at home my siblings and family. Hearing peoples thoughts constantly is exhausting at the best of times but hearing what they think about my looks is absolutely infuriating. I've never had someone want to get to know me for my personality, and sadly it just makes everyone look shallow. I have to sit there, seeing their illusions and fantasies of me in their head. It's hard to looks someone in the eye after that, or to take them seriously. The irony of what they desire and what they would get from me is laughable. I'm an old fashioned guy, with old fashioned morals. I couldn't date any of the girls in this school, they are vein and immature. I wouldn't be able to tell them what I am, what I am capable of doing. Not that the single female vampires in my life are any different, everyones the same."

Edward regretted saying the last bit, he didn't mean it and knew it sounded harsh. He continued to look out the window as the cabin filled with an intoxicating awkwardness. A warm hand covered his shoulder, knowing it was Lee, he looked at him, deep concern on his face.

"That was deep." Lee was looking at him, a sad glint in his eye.

"You can't say that all girls see you that way?" Fred questioned "That all girls are vein and shallow."

"No I'm not saying that." Edward agreed. "I'm just saying that every girl that has claimed to be in love with me doesn't know me."

So you're going to stay single forever Ollie?"George asked, genuinely looking surprised.

Edward smiled a small smile at them. He hadn't meant to make the situation awkward, he just needed them to understand why he was the way he was. From reading their minds at least he could see that they did.

"If you can find me a girl who doesn't mind that I'm a mind reading Vampire, I will be willing to give it a go."

"I don't think that's much to ask." George agreed sarcastically "But what happens however if she isn't brunette?"