Part 2

Act 4

Chapter 55

Hiya Ollie,

Fred here, and George. How are you mate? How's life outside Hogwarts treating you? We wanted to know if Hermione ever responded to your last letter. She showed it to us before the party. Well, not sure if it was all of it, but the part where you were asking her about whether or not she liked Quidditch anyway. She came down and asked us about it when she found the letter waiting for her. She asked us if you were seriously asking her to the Quidditch World Cup. Well, not in those words exactly, we supplied that it sounded like you were asking her to us. She said no. Not because she didn't like you, Ollie. Or that she didn't like Quidditch. It seems to be because she's concerned about the cost of tickets. She knows how expensive they are. She said it was too much, she couldn't accept.

So, we made a deal with her. Yeah, a deal. If dad can't get tickets to go - Ron is asking for Harry, so one more for Hermione wouldn't be asking too much - as he can get them free from work if there are any left - If dad can't get the tickets to go - then she would accept the invitation from you and suck it up when it came to the cost.

Don't be too hard on her if she didn't tell you. Yeah, she's a good person, but she's got her pride. We just wanted to let you know in case she didn't so that you didn't wonder why she hadn't responded or what was going on. We'll let you know what we find out from dad as soon as we know. Have a good summer, Ollie. We'll miss you at Hogwarts, but hopefully we'll see you at the Quidditch World Cup!

Fred and George

Oliver shook his head as he read the co-authored letter from the twins, and fed their owl, Errol who had crashed landed against the side of their tent only moments earlier. He had often wondered how the bird had survived so many head on collisions with solid objects. He recalled one year offering to buy the twins their own owl, one that wasn't quite so addled, but they had refused, telling him that their mum wouldn't approve. They told him while they appreciated the offer, their family had always made do, and didn't like charity. He was glad for their letter since Hermione hadn't spoken to him about the letter at the party, nor had she addressed it since.

He wondered why he hadn't heard from her since they said goodbye on the platform. It hadn't been all that long since the end of the school year, and he figured that she was enjoying some time with her family, so it hadn't bothered him all that much, but it was nice to have some kind of any idea about what the holdup was. He'd never thought about her turning him down merely over the cost of the tickets. Then again, he hadn't told her how wealthy his family actuallywaseither. He had wanted to pursue Quidditch not only because he loved the sport, but because then he could actually do something out of his father's shadow.

His mother stayed at home and was able to do as she pleased, pursuing whatever hobbies took her fancy while his dad worked in the Ministry. While itwasa rare book he had given to Hermione over Christmas, it wasn't one that he'd actually gone out and bought, but one that had been sitting on their bookshelf, untouched, for as long as he could remember.

Because of this, it had never even crossed his mind that the cost of the tickets would be an issue.

Hello Fred, Hello George,

It was good to hear from you. I am doing well. Life outside Hogwarts is all right. I miss you and the rest of the team, too. Mum loves having me home. She gets lonely with dad away from home because of work at the Ministry. While she doesn't mind the house-elves, like me, she doesn't like them waiting on her all the time, but they aren't much for conversation otherwise, no matter how hard we try.

Thank you for letting me know about your conversation with Hermione. I suppose she's right; itisa bit much to try and get tickets for her to go with us, especially since we're already here for the semi-finals. Thank you for checking with your dad about getting an extra one for her. Let me know if he can't and I'll go ahead and ask my father to see if he can purchase one for her.

I don't really talk about money because I know others have a hard time, though things happen that are beyond their control. Thinking back, I really wish you had taken the money from me when you were taking bets last year in regards to your brother getting the Howler from home, it could have helped you with your business, but I also understand why you didn't, and I'm okay with that.

No, I haven't heard from Hermione since we said goodbye on the platform, and yes, we're friends. She promised to write me, maybe she's just busy with her family. They went to France last summer. Maybe they are on another trip?

Did she say why the cost of tickets bothered her? Which way was she leaning - I mean did she seem flattered or overwhelmed or...something else? Not left or right, forward or backward, you two *eyeroll*

Anyway, I am taking some time to relax with my parents after my last year at Hogwarts and applied to Puddlemere United, hopefully I'll hear something before next season starts. My father suggested using the Cup to see if I could make connections with other teams if it doesn't work out with Puddlemere, and I think I'll take his advice and see what happens. Keeping my fingers crossed that I see you all there.

Oliver

Oliver checked on Errol to make sure he was well rested from his flight with the letter from the twins before sending him off again with his reply and hurrying off to the next semi-final match up with his parents.

Hiya Ollie,

George here,and Fred. Sorry you've not heard from Hermione yet this talked about it, and maybe there's something we should tell you, but don't get mad at the poor girl, you should know we pestered her, otherwise, she probably wouldn't have said told us -and Lee- about your talk on Halloween...That you were friends... but well...We- Lee included -think that your gifts to each other speak a lot about what you're not told us that she doesn't want to hold you backand that it started with Lee's protests in her first year about your age difference.

She thinks you might have a girlfriend before she comes of age,George and I told her we doubt it,and she said no one really knows what the future should have seen her expression when Lee told her that she might if she didn't drop exact words were 'Oh, please,'accompanied with an eye roll.

Georgeand Fred

Oliver laughed imagining how cute and spunky she would have looked and sighed as he folded the letter, falling quiet and still for a few minutes as he thought back over the time spent at Hogwarts and their friendship.

"Everything all right, son?" Oliver's father asked, approaching his son where he sat outside their tent under a large oak tree, returning to the campsite carrying a large pail of water.

"Yeah, dad," Oliver said, tapping the letter in his hand a moment and looking up. "Just thinking, that's all."

"Oh?" His father asked, putting the pail down and taking up a chair next to him. "That sounds serious. Anything you want to talk about?"

Oliver sighed and looked out over the campsite. "It just feels so strange..." he said. "Being out of school, you know?"

Oliver tried to ignore it as he felt his father's intense, studying gaze on him.

"Uh, huh," His father said.

"What?" Oliver returned, looking at him curiously, his interest piqued.

"I know that look," his father said.

"What look?" Oliver asked, confused.

"The silent, thoughtful, kind of mopey look," his father said, pointing to him with an up and down sweep of his hand.

"Mopey?" Oliver asked, arching a brow.

"Yes, mopey," his father returned. "It's not just leaving school and your friends behind, is it?" he asked with a pointed look. "You left behind someone special, didn't you?"

Oliver sighed deeply and nodded. "Yeah," he admitted. "I did."

His father smiled a smile that lit up his face, turning his cheeks a bright, ruddy color and making his dark brown eyes sparkle with mirth.

"What?" Oliver asked, thoroughly puzzled by his father's expression.

"I just never thought I'd live to see the day, where you thought there was something more important than Quidditch, that's all. Wait till I tell your mother!"

Oliver groaned and closed his eyes causing his father to laugh heartily.

Oliver made sure he was up early every morning that they were at the campsite where the Quidditch World Cup would be held. He would hurriedly dress in the semi-darkness and then head out with the pail and fill it with water, bringing it back to the tent and then heading off to the pitch to watch the teams playing that day begin to practice for the matches. Not many did the same, so he generally had the stadium bleachers to himself. He was busy watching the Peruvians practice for their match later that day with Ireland when he heard someone come down the steps.

"Ah, you are here again," said a rough, brutish voice, surprising Oliver enough that he turned around to look up to see a burly boy with a distinctive hooked nose and thick, dark eyebrows.

Oliver mentally kicked himself for staring and hoped he hadn't been for too long. "Oh, yeah," he said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude if I was staring. It's just that you surprised me. When I heard you come up, I thought you were my dad."

"Oh," the boy said with a snort of laughter and a smile. "No. Do you mind if I sit?"

"Not at all," Oliver said, and motioned to a spot next to him. He swallowed and tried to ignore it when he felt the other boy's eyes on him when he sat down as he turned his attention back to the practice going on out over the field.

"You are student?" the boy asked.

Oliver blinked, not expecting the boy to talk to him. "Oh, no," he replied and smiled. "I finished at Hogwarts this last year."

"Ah," the boy said. "It is too bad," he said.

"Why is that?" Oliver asked, his eyes still on the Peruvian practice.

"It would be nice to know someone there," the boy replied. "But I suppose it is also good thing, too."

"Oh yeah?" Oliver asked. "How is that?"

"Igor Karkaroff, my headmaster, notified us that we will be traveling to Hogwarts soon after session begins."

"Really?" Oliver said turning to look at him for the first time since he offered the boy a seat. "Why is that?"

"Vell, since you are no longer student there, IthinkI can tell you," the boy said. "Tri Wizard Tournament is starting this year, and Hogwarts vill be hosting. If you were still student, ve might be competing."

Oliver blinked. "T-the Tri Wizard Tournament?" he asked and saw the boy nod. "But that hasn't been around since the Cockatrice rampage of 1792!"

The boy nodded grimly but then grinned. "Karkaroffprobablywouldn't like me talking about it, but it seems your former headmaster got them to reinstate it. I vill be entering on behalf of Durmstrang."

"Wow," Oliver said, looking at the boy in awe. "I'm impressed; but how did you find out?"

Karkaroff sent out eh... announcement to all eligible student, when he learn of reinstatement," the boy said. "Ve had to get parent permission to travel to Hogwarts for tournament."

"Ah, I see," Oliver said. "That makes sense."

"So, uh," the boy said drawing Oliver's attention again when he had returned to watching the practice. "You like Quidditch?"

"Yes," Oliver said glancing over to the boy again.

"You play?" the boy asked.

"Yes, well, Idid," Oliver said.

"What mean 'did'?" the boy asked. "You do not play now?"

"I was Keeper for the Gryffindor house team at Hogwarts," Oliver said. "I even became the team captain."

"That is good," the boy said with a nod of approval.

"But I haven't played since leaving school," Oliver said sadly.

"You do not want to play professional?" the boy asked.

"Oh, no," Oliver said. "I applied to the teams in the British and Irish Quidditch League, but I haven't heard anything yet."

"Ah," the boy said with a nod.

"Oliver Wood," Oliver said, and held his hand out in an offered handshake.

"Viktor Krum," the boy said, and shook Oliver's hand. "It is nice to officially meet you."

"Yes," Oliver said. "You too."

"So," Viktor said. "You have a favorite team? Team you want to eh, join?"

Oliver nodded. "I'd really like to play for Puddlemere United."

"Good team," Viktor said with a nod. "They were first professional team. Founded 1163, yes?"

"That's the one," Oliver said. It was then that Oliver realized what the boy - Viktor Krum - had said when he first appeared in the stands. "Hey, um," he began with a look of confusion.

"Yes?" Viktor asked.

"When you came down," Oliver said. "You asked a question, didn't you? That I was hereagain?"

"Ah," Viktor said with a smile. "Yes. I notice you before, not many come here for practice before games."

Oliver was about to respond when an tawny owl fluttered down beside him and dropped a scroll onto the bench. Oliver blinked and watched the bird unsure whether or not it was a biter, and bent down to retrieve the scroll.

Summer #1 1994

Oliver,

I amsosorry I haven't written sooner! I - well, I just didn't know what to say, really. I hope you can forgive me for not writing. I think a lot of it was just that I didn't know how to respond to your last letter. I asked the twins what you meant and they suggested that I should reply right away, but like I said I didn't know what to say.

If I were to take your question at face value, that you were just asking me out of curiosity whether or not I liked Quidditch, I would have to say that yes, I do enjoy watching it, it can be rather exciting. But then, I had to wonder if you were hinting at something else, I mean, I've seen the ads for the Quidditch World Cup in the Daily Prophet a lot lately advertising tickets, and I didn't know if you were asking me if I liked Quidditch because you wanted to ask me to the World Cup, and if so was it just as a friend or as a date and - I'm going to stop now... I'm sorry, I really over think things sometimes.

Anyway, while I do enjoy watching Quidditch, I - I don't think I could accept any offer you might have of attending the Quidditch World Cup with you. That is to say, I like you, but you've already spent so much on me for Christmases and my birthdays, I - I don't think I should accept. I've seen the cost of tickets and I know they're not cheap. Thanks for thinking of me though.

Fred and George have been trying to get Mr. Weasley to get an extra ticket from where he works at the Ministry so I can go along with them and Harry. I just got a letter from them that he was able to get them, so I will be going with the Weasleys and Harry. Hope to see you there!

Hermione

PS. I was busy with my mom these passed few weeks as well. She's teaching me to knit. I'll explain later. Don't worry about paying the owl for a response, I paid for owl post both ways.

Oliver smiled and looked around to see that the owl was still there. Digging into the pocket of his robes, he dug out his wand and waved it over the letter. "Gimino," he said and smiled as the letter was duplicated. "Finite Incantatum. Atramento Evanesca," he said and watched the ink on the duplicate disappear. Reaching into the pocket of his robe again, he pulled out the quill and ink that he learned to carry with him just in case, after he'd received the letter from the twins and had to respond.

Summer #1 1994

Hello Kitty Cat,

Please calm down. Don't worry about how long it took you to write. I haven't been home, anyway. Well, at least not long. I spent maybe two nights in my bed at home. Mum, Dad and I are already out at the pitch where the World Cup will be. We came here for the semi-finals after I returned from school. It's been really great watching the professional players. I haven't heard back from anyone in the British and Irish League yet.

As for my question, I suppose you could take it however you wanted to, but I understand your concerns about the price of tickets, and I am glad that you'll be coming with the Weasleys. Haha, - smile - don't expect me to not send you things for Christmases or your birthdays though. I miss you, so I hope I get to see you when you get here. Maybe I'll have heard something by then from Puddlemere United.

So, your mum was teaching you to knit, hmm? I hear Mrs. Weasley also knits. I saw the twins and their other siblings around at Christmas with new jumpers.

Oliver

He put the quill and ink back in in his pocket, rolled up the parchment, held it out to the owl which took flight and hovered before clutching the letter. "Hermione Granger," he said, and watched it fly off.

"Who is Herm-own-ninny Grangur?" Viktor asked, looking at Oliver curiously. "Your girlfriend?"

Oliver looked at him in confusion for a moment before he realized what Viktor was trying to say. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Hermione Granger," he said and the boy nodded. "She's a friend I knew from Hogwarts. She's kind of become like my little sister."

"You look after?" Viktor asked. "Protect?"

Oliver nodded. "Yes," he replied. "Though it will be harder now that I've left school. Say!" he said, his eyes lighting up. "I've got an idea!"

"Vot?" Viktor asked.

"Well, that is, if you don't mind," Oliver said.

When Viktor shook his head, Oliver began to explain his plan.