Catching Her Heart

by Glitchie

Oliver Wood sees a lot of his younger self in Hermione Granger when she appears at Hogwarts for her first year. He takes it upon himself to look after her like a big brother. But when he leaves Hogwarts, things become a tad more difficult, not only because of the distance, but because as their friendship continues, he finds his feelings toward her change.

50. Chapter 50

Chapter 50

1 March 1994
Hi Sweetie,
Hope you're doing well. We heard from Anthony this week. He found the stuff you were asking him to research for Oliver's birthday present. We hope he likes it, and we've included some of the photos we took at the park. Wish him a happy birthday, for us!
Love
Mom and Dad

Hey cousin,
Long time no see. So you like this Oliver guy enough to send him a birthday present huh? Haha. Yeah, sure, I found some stuff for you. Never thought you'd like anyone more than books. Good for you. Hope he likes everything. Let me know, alright?
Anthony

Shuffling the pages around, she groaned when out of her cousin's letter fell what she'd learned from him was a 1.4 MB floppy disk. Just how was she supposed to get the research off of it here? Sighing, she set it aside. Maybe Professor Burbage could help — for once.

Hermione checked the pages again and was relieved to find actual photographs her dad had taken of their trip to Disneyland Paris, so she had something to give to Oliver.

Over the course of the next week, Hermione talked with Professor Burbage and found that in fact they did have a working Muggle computer that took the disk Anthony had sent, and that yes, they had a working printer as well. Hermione had been under the impression that electronics didn't work in the wizarding world from what she'd read inHogwarts: A History, and learned from Professor Burbage that Professor Dumbledore, having a love for Muggle entertainment, had gotten the devices and learned how to make them work with magical fields.

After making her printouts, Hermione thanked her teacher and headed off to prepare Oliver's present.

As Oliver's birthday drew closer, Hermione became increasingly nervous. What if he didn't like her present? She waited all day trying to figure out how to give it to him when the day arrived when she finally got an idea toward dinner. Pulling out a quill, ink and parchment, she scribbled a note.

15March 1994
Oliver,
Happy birthday!
I know you said that I didn't have to get you anything, but I do have something for you. It's not just from me, but my parents and my cousin, Anthony helped as well. Haha, even Professor Burbage and Professor Dumbledore helped if you can believe that!
Anyway, I've been trying to figure out how to give it to you and just now figured it out. Can you stay up for a bit tonight, in the common room after everyone goes to sleep? If you can meet me there, I can give you your present then.
Hermione

15 March 1994
Thank you for the birthday wishes, kitty cat. Wow, you really didn't have to go through all the trouble. To think even Professor Burbage and Professor Dumbledore helped! I can't wait to hear about it. Yes, I can wait around in the common room tonight. Even if I couldn't, I would find a way. You have me intrigued, haha.
Oliver

Hermione grinned as she read Oliver's note. She liked that he found her intriguing. Hurrying up to her dorm before dinner, she grabbed the stack of papers she had printed out in Muggle Studies, snagged one of Crookshanks old, battered feather sticks and pulled out her wand, transfiguring it into a long, bright, shiny red ribbon.

She spent some time organising the pages she printed in the most informative and interesting way she could, then she grabbed some blank parchment papers, laying them out end to end before using her wand to stitch them together where they formed a single seamless sheet.

She carefully laid the pages within the centre of the sheet, and placing the photographs on top, she wrapped it, tying it with the ribbon. Taking her inked quill, she scrawled Oliver's name in the corner. She bit her lip before deciding to stick the now wrapped package back in her trunk until after dinner.

That night after dinner she was distracted from her homework, waiting for everyone to leave the common room. She would find herself working on her essays for a time, idly kicking her feet against the chair she sat in, and looking up every so often to see who was still around. Many times, she caught Oliver's eye and would see him smile and laugh, shaking his head before he'd grin at her and wink, returning to his own homework as they both waited for the room to clear out.

Only a few students were left when she finally packed up her half finished homework, giving up on it until the next morning and headed up stairs. She took the time to put it away properly and grab his present from her trunk before returning to find the common room empty.

She paused, looking around and blinking but relaxed when she saw Oliver lean forward and look up at her from one of the chairs by the fireplace. Smiling, she headed down the stairs to meet him.

"Thought I'd left, did you?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah, sort of," Hermione replied with a blush.

He pushed himself from the chair and got up, lazily taking her free hand and settled on the couch, drawing her down with him. "So tell me," he said. "How is it exactly that the Headmaster and Professor Burbage helped with my present? I mean, I feel so special and important."

Hermione laughed and shook her head. "Youarespecial and important," she said without thinking, but continued, unaware of the impact her words had on him. "Here," she said and reached into her pocket, drawing out the disk Anthony had enclosed and held it up. "This is what my cousin, Anthony, sent your present on."

Oliver took it and turned it over in his hands, confused and intrigued. "What is it?" he asked.

"It's called a floppy disk. It holds information that can be accessed using a computer," Hermione said.

"So how do I get it?" Oliver asked, confused and still turning the disk over in his hands.

Hermione grinned and bit her lip before handing him the package she'd held in her arm. "Already done," she said and handed him the package she'd wrapped earlier, taking the disk from him in trade. "I wasn't really sure how to get it either. We hadn't covered computers in Muggle Studies yet. Apparently, Professor Dumbledore enjoys Muggle entertainment so much, he learned how to get a computer and printer to work with magic. I accessed the information on the disk in Muggle Studies and printed it up for you."

Oliver laughed and shook his head as he began unwrapping the present. His breath caught at the still photos of Hermione and her parents that greeted him. He picked them up and looked through them. Hermione and her parents in front of a castle, Hermione on what looked like a large tea cup, her eyes closed and hair flying as she laughed, Hermione and her parents with hats on that looked like mouse ears, Hermione and her parents with tall pointed wizard hats with stars, Hermione and her mom in front of a large ride with metal tracks like a train but that were at all angles up in the air. And the last one, his favourite, Hermione looking cute and smiling, leaning against the brass pole of a carousel horse in a close up.

"Wow, thanks," Oliver said when he realised that a silence had fallen as he had looked through the photographs. "These are great. What is this?" he asked, pointing to the one he'd passed with the metal train tracks.

"Oh," Hermione said, relaxing. "Those are the tracks for a rollercoaster."

"Rollercoaster?" Oliver asked, looking at her.

"Yeah, it's a Muggle thrill ride," Hermione explained. "There are all kinds of different track designs for them, some are even made mostly of wood. You ride in this car that runs along the track. Some of them twist and turn and even go upside down. They can be pretty fun."

"Says the girl who's afraid of heights," he teased with a wink. "Did you actually go on one?"

Hermione swallowed thickly, remembering how scared she'd been at first. It reminded her of flying on a broom. "Yes," she said after a moment. "I actually did. Once I got over my fear of the first ride, I went on it a couple more times. I still don't like heights though," she said with a laugh and shake of her head.

"So what's this?" Oliver said finding a photo that he'd missed as he went to organise them.

"Oh, that?" Hermione said, turning her head to look at the photo that she was glad her parents had included. It was a picture of her outside the Hôtel Wilson getting ready to go for a bike ride around the town. "That's the hotel we stayed at in Dijon."

"No," Oliver said and pointed to the odd looking thing she was on. "That."

"Oh!" Hermione said. "That's a bicycle."

Oliver looked up at her curiously. "Is that what you were telling me that Muggles rode in that race?"

"The Tour de France?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, that one," Oliver said.

"Well, they don't ride that kind of bike, but something similar, yes."

Hermione smiled as Oliver studied the photograph of her on the bike. "I - I think my aunt and uncle had something kind of like this. I'd really have to ask my mom to be sure though. It was a long time ago..." he said with a sigh and shook his head before he continued to the pages under the photographs. "What's all this?" he asked with a laugh, taking in how many pages there were.

"This part's from my cousin, Anthony," Hermione said. "I asked him to dig up what he could on the history of amusement parks." She paused and gave a laugh. "I remembered that I forgot to tell you about them. I didn't realise that he'd found so much until I printed it up. I may have to go buy some supplies for the Muggle Studies class this summer to replace what I used."

They shared a laugh as Oliver thumbed through some of the pages, skimming over it and making a comment or asking a question here or there. They stayed up talking as the fire burned low and when Hermione began to yawn, Oliver drew her to his side, wrapping an arm around her. "Thank you, kitty cat," he murmured and leaned over, kissing her cheek. "I look forward to reading all about it."

Hermione blinked, waking up a bit at the action and looked at him as she stammered nervously, "M-my mom said that - maybe - if you like - I could take you to one... sometime - if you want."

"I'd like that," Oliver said with a smile. "Thanks again. I can - I can keep the photographs?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and moved to stand up though she couldn't hold back another yawn. "Well... goodnight, Oliver."

Oliver smiled up at her. "Good night, kitty cat."

Hermione backed up, and flushed as she nearly backed into the chair he'd been sitting in when she came down, before she turned and headed up to bed.

Oliver chuckled softly to himself as he watched her go before turning to look through the photographs once more.

16March 1994
Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for including pictures of our trip to France for Oliver's birthday present. He really enjoyed them. He asked a lot of questions too, about the amusement park and the bike I was about to take a ride on when Dad got the picture outside the hotel in Dijon. I had written to Oliver about the Tour de France over the summer, and he remembered about it being on bicycles. He's from a different kind of family than ours. His mother is like us, but his dad isn't.
Oliver told me that they moved away from his aunt and uncle and cousins on his mom's side when he was just five. So he didn't know anything about places like amusement parks and didn't remember if his aunt and uncle had a bicycle or not. He is really looking forward to reading about the amusement parks from the stuff that Anthony sent. I have enclosed a letter to forward to Anthony.
Oliver was really happy when I told him that yes, he got to keep the pictures you sent. I think he is intrigued that they don't move. He looked really excited, mom, when I told him that you said that maybe I should take him to an amusement park some time. I just hope we really get the chance some day.
Hermione

16 March 1994
Dear Anthony,
Thank you for the time you took to help me out with the birthday present for Oliver. Yes, I do like him more than books, haha! I wanted to let you know that he really enjoyed his present. Mom and Dad sent him pictures from our trip to France and Disneyland Paris so he could see the attractions. Mom even said that maybe one day I can take him to visit a park. To be honest, I'm not so sure. This present was really important for me to get him because this is his last year at school. He's off to bigger and better things. He's an athlete and is trying to make a sports team. He still hasn't heard yet, but he's hopeful.
He's talked to me since I first came here, and has really been a great friend, and like the big brother I never had. It will be hard not seeing him, but he has assured me that we can write and so that makes it a little better. Our other friends, Fred, George and Lee will still be here. They are a year ahead of me, so one year without them here shouldn't be too awful either... unless Fred and George's brother, Ronald, who is my year, decides to be a jerk again.
Ron had a pet rat from home that always went missing. He's had it a long time, I'm surprised it's still breathing. He'd had it since we first started school here, and this year I was able to get a pet of my own, a cat, and he was always blaming my cat for eating his rat when he couldn't find it. He's such a pain. Our friend Harry is nice though. Not much I can say about him... he likes to try and prove himself to everyone. I — I guess that comes from his home life. I — I don't really think his relatives like him too much. I'm not sure why though.

Maybe they resent him? He lives with his aunt and uncle on his mom's side. His parents were killed in an accident when he was just a year old, and he's the only one who survived. Maybe his aunt resents losing her sister? I don't know. But it has led to some really dangerous situations here at school at times. I can't really get into it because it's not my place, but sometimes I wonder how he survived without me being there to think him out of trouble, you know?
Anyway, thanks for all your help again with Oliver's present. Not sure when I'll get another chance to write so you might not hear from me for a while. We still have classes going on and I have homework to finish. Maybe I'll see you this summer if I don't have plans already.
Hermione

20 March 1994
Hello Sweetheart,
We still have the letter for Anthony. Are you sure you want us to send him that? It's not telling him too much is it? We just want to make sure that it won't get you into trouble. Let us know and we'll forward it to him. We're glad that Oliver enjoyed his birthday present and that he's excited about going to an amusement park with you. Maybe you can go this summer if he's able?
Mom and Dad

20 March 1994
Hi Mom, Hi Dad,
Yes, I thought about it, and I was careful with what I told Anthony. I had to tell him something about my friends. Did you know he sent me a floppy disk for a computer? I was just glad that there's a class here teaching about our way of life outside of school here that had the equipment I needed to get Anthony's research so I could give it to Oliver. You remember Mr Weasley and how fascinated he was about us, right? They don't really have computers or that kind of thing here. They don't really know what email is. Or really, even a telephone.
In some ways, everything is backwards, and in some ways more advanced. I still find myself trying to wrap my mind around it sometimes, but yes, I want you to send the letter to Anthony. As for when I could take Oliver to see an amusement park, I don't know if I could this summer... there's really something else coming up that I can't really tell you about, that he's interested in. Maybe, if there's time I guess. I don't know.
Hermione

30 March 1994
Hey cousin,
Hope your studies are going well and you can continue in your school. Wow, this Oliver guy does seem pretty important then if he's replaced me as the brother you never had! Glad he liked your present. Ronald seems rather obnoxious, especially considering his rat is so old. I never heard of having pets at school, but I guess that's what boarding schools are like. You know I wouldn't know. Haha. I'm in public school all the way.
Seems kinda strange that a guy from a small town would get into such an elite school though... Maybe he had a scholarship for good grades like you? Don't worry, I'll just assume that's how he got there, you don't have to break from your studies just to write back and answer that. If you really want to answer, you can, or you can tell me when you get back home for summer break. Whatever works.
What sport does he play? Naw, never mind, you know I'm not that into sports. Sorry to hear about how crummy Harry's family treats him. I hope things get better for him. You could be right about them resenting him. Especially if Harry's mom and his aunt were close.
Anyway, I'd better go. The dungeons ofDoomare calling me, plus I'm avoiding my own homework. -wink- Hopefully I'll see you this summer.
Anthony

Hermione smiled, relieved that she'd been correct about Anthony not caring about sports so she didn't have to bother with lying to him about what Oliver wanted to do after school. In some ways, she supposed, tilting her head as she thought about it; Anthony and Oliver were alike. Both seemed not only to care about her, but were fun to be around, easy going and were easy to talk to. In other ways, the way Oliver liked sports and Anthony didn't, they were complete opposites.

The evening of 9 June, found Oliver heading up to the common room with Fred, George and Lee, who were trying to cheer him up. He'd been feeling down over the fact that Hermione didn't want him to be there when she announced that today was the day of Buckbeak's execution, and that she was going down with Harry and Ron to help support Hagrid.

"Come on, Ollie," George said. "Cheer up."

"Yeah," Fred added. "I'm sure she'll write to you about it whenever she gets back."

"It's not the same," Oliver groused. "Wait..."

The sun glinted through the windows of the fifth floor overlooking the standing stones, and movement out the window caught his attention. He stopped, looking out over the grounds and saw Hermione holding her wand level with Malfoy's face. He swallowed and felt himself pale as he wondered if anyone else was witnessing this.

He watched as she slowly lowered her wand and felt like he could breathe again, but he couldn't help the brief laugh that escaped him as he saw her punch the blond snake in the face, knowing that the little prat had said something to provoke her.

"See," George said, having followed Oliver's line of sight to witness the blow as well.

"Yeah," Fred agreed.

"You don't have to worry about her, Oliver," Lee interjected. "It's plain that she can take care of herself."

Oliver sighed, there was no debating that his friends had witnessed the encounter, and he shook his head. "Come on," he said and continued on toward the dorm.

"Wait!" Fred said, and reached out, grabbing his arm. "W-what is that?"

"What?" Oliver asked, noting the quaver in his voice as he turned to look and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione headed down the path toward Hagrid's hut like he expected.

"Th-that's impossible," Lee muttered at his side, his voice low.

"What are you talking about?" Oliver asked.

"Th-that!" George said, pointing out the window toward the standing stones where he saw Harry and Hermione had moved from the side of the bridge and moved quickly to hide behind the stones.

"Get back!" he urged as he saw Harry turn and look back toward the castle to where they stood, and pushed them away from the window.

"Jordan, Weasley, Wood," a stern voice sounded not far away.

"Professor McGonagall?" Oliver asked.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I -" Fred said

"We -" George added.

"We- we -" Lee tried.

Professor McGonagall raised her brow in question and looked to Oliver.

"I tried, Professor," he said and shook his head. "They saw..." he paused, noticing that there were other students milling around the halls.

"Come to my office, all of you," Professor McGonagall said.

"Yes, Professor," Oliver said, and dragged his friends away from the window. "Come on, you guys."

"But, but," Lee and the twins argued, pointing back to the window.

"Silence," Professor McGonagall said sternly. "I said in my office."

"Yes, Professor," Lee said, and elbowed the twins.

A short time later, they entered Professor McGonagall's office and Lee and the twins turned to Oliver. "How can you be so calm?" Lee asked.

"Yeah," George said.

"How can you be so calm after what we just saw?"

Oliver turned to Professor McGonagall, uncertain of whether or not he should be the one to explain.

"Ms Granger," Professor McGonagall spoke up, drawing their attention. "Has been authorised with the use of the Time-Turner to attend her classes all year."

"A Time-Turner?" Lee asked.

"A-and you knew about this?" Fred asked, looking at Oliver.

Oliver nodded.

"That's why you weren't freaking out when we saw..."

"It's true," Oliver said. "I've known since just before school started."

"And you didn't tell us?" Fred asked.

"Mr Wood was to be the only one to know," Professor McGonagall said. "Now, I don't know what she and Mr. Potter are up to at this time, as she was under strict instructions to keep it secret. I can only assume that she and Mr. Potter are under Professor Dumbledore's instruction."

"What do we do now, Professor?" Oliver asked.

"You are to follow the rules of the school and return to your common room," Professor McGonagall said. "I am sure that you will hear from her later on what has occurred, Mr Wood."

"Yes, Professor," Oliver said.

"And I want to make one thing perfectly clear," Professor McGonagall called after them as they headed to the door of her office. "No one else is to be made aware of what has happened this evening, is that understood? Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Ms Granger have only gone down to visit Hagrid and will return soon."

"Yes, Professor," Oliver, the twins and Lee said, nodding in understanding.

"Very well, hop to it now."

Oliver stayed up that night, long after the others went to bed. He told Lee and the twins he would let them know what happened when he knew, but reminded them again not to talk about it around the other students.

He had curled up on the sofa in front of the fire to wait for Harry and Hermione to return but as everyone left the common room early that night, there was nothing to keep him occupied, and he dozed in front of the fire.

Hermione came in with Harry around midnight. She tapped Harry on the shoulder and nodded toward Oliver.

"Let him know I'll try and send him a message in the morning, okay?" she whispered, and Harry nodded, heading over to wake Oliver and head off to bed as Hermione yawned and headed up to her own dorm.

10June 1994
Oliver,
Can we meet somewhere to talk? I want to let you know what happened last night. When Harry and I got back to the common room, you were asleep on the couch, and I was really too tired to stay up and talk then. There is a lot to fill you in on.
Hermione

Hermione sent her note off that morning before she got dressed for the day. She was so relieved that they'd already finished all their end of year exams, and she now had time to herself. She didn't have to wait long for an answer though, and saw a dove fly in as she finished getting dressed and feeding Crookshanks before she headed out of the dorm room.

Opening the note, she read:

10June 1994
Hermione,
I was waiting for you to come back so I could hear what happened, but I understand being tired. I must tell you that Fred, George and Lee are driving me crazy as they also want to hear what happened. I didn't tell them anything, honest. It was Professor McGonagall who filled them in about you having a Time-Turner.

It was yesterday evening when we were headed back to the common room when I saw you heading down to Hagrid's with Harry and Ron. A moment later, and they saw you and Harry following - well, yourselves - and they freaked out. Professor McGonagall found us and told us to go with her to her office and to keep quiet. Once there, she told them about you having a Time-Turner. They were so upset that I was taking everything in stride and had known about it all along. Anyway, if you're okay with telling them too, we're heading down to the Quidditch pitch after breakfast.
Oliver

Hermione bit her lip. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of anyone other than Oliver and now Harry and sort of Ron knowing what was going on with the Time-Turner, but since the explanation came from Professor McGonagall...

The day was sunny and warm as Hermione made her way down to the pitch after breakfast to meet Oliver, Lee and the twins. Just after breakfast, she had met with Professor McGonagall to discuss the Time-Turner, and she was relieved to know that her Head of House understood and agreed with her that while she had the mind to take on such an academic achievement as she had, she didn't have to hold on to it any longer and would be meeting with Professor McGonagall after she talked with Oliver, Lee and the twins. Professor McGonagall pointed out that she had better hold on to it until after she'd talked to them, or she'd never hear the end of it if they were not allowed to at leastseethe Time-Turner. However, she was under strict instruction that she was not allowed to let them play with it and Hermione couldn't agree more.

"There she is!" Fred yelled when Hermione came into view.

"And here you thought she wouldn't show, Ollie," George added.

"Really?" Lee asked. "Ollie, you're such a dolt. Of course she'd come see you."

"Hi guys," Hermione greeted them with a shy smile as she climbed the stairs of the Gryffindor section of the stands.

"Hi," the boys chorused as she joined them in the stands.

"I thought you were flying," Hermione said as she sat down in the spot Lee made for her at the look he received from Oliver.

"Oh, we were supposed to be, but they were all too excited to hear what happened," Oliver said.

"Oh, come off it, Ollie," George said.

"Yeah," Fred added.

"You were too, after her letter this morning," Lee added, making Oliver and Hermione both blush.

"Alright, alright," Oliver said, trying to ease his embarrassment as well as Hermione's by changing the subject. "Let her tell the story, will you?"

"Yeah," Fred said, looking excited.

"Will you?" George asked, looking just as excited as his brother.

"Please?" Lee asked.

"Okay, okay," Hermione said, trying to calm them down. "I'll tell you what happened, but first I want to lay some ground rules."

"Rules?" The twins cried in unison, making Lee, Oliver and Hermione laugh.

"Yes,rules," Hermione continued.

"O-kay," Fred lamented sadly.

"Let's have them," George added.

"First," Hermione said. "What I tell you stays strictly between us. Not a peep to anyone." She glared at them all before finishing, "Got it?"

"Got it," they said, though Fred and George sounded a little forlorn about the prospect.

"Good," Hermione continued. "Second, you won't interrupt while I'm telling you what happened. It will be confusing enough to keep it straight in my own head, I don't need to stop and answer questions."

Oliver raised his hand and waved it slightly.

Hermione smiled and laughed as she called on him. "Yes, Oliver?"

"What if we get lost or confused in what you're talking about?" Oliver asked.

"Well," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I suppose afewinterruptions for clarification won't be too bad, but just keep them limited, okay?"

"Alright," Fred said.

"Anything else?" George asked.

"Yes," Hermione said, looking around and noticing some Slytherins approaching the pit. "Let's take this to the Gryffindor tent, shall we?"