“Granddad said the visions were conflicting with the potion,” I told Katie and Oliver, “instead of stopping them, it was making me sicker.”
“That explains the bleeding and passing out outside,” Oliver said tightening his grip around my waist, my back against his chest, his chin resting on my shoulder.
“Isn’t there a different potion you could take?” Katie asked hopefully, I could hear it in her voice.
I shook my head, “I asked Granddad that, but he said that the one Snape had given me was the only one strong enough to help.”
“Oh,” she said quietly.
A few weeks had passed since Valentine’s Day, with each passing day I was getting better. I hadn’t had a vision in a while and the nosebleeds, headaches, the ringing in my ears had stopped, gratefully. I didn’t think I could handle it anymore.
Oliver and I had been together a lot lately, never really letting each other out of site; I suspected Oliver thought that I would pass out if I did. I didn’t really mind, I liked the attention he was giving him however selfish it may sound.
I’d go to his Quidditch practices, I found that I was there more then studying since qudditch final’s was soon approaching, I wanted Gryffindor to win. We deserve it. Oliver deserves it.
Katie, Oliver and I were sitting outside, talking, I was filling them in on everything, and when I say everything I mean everything. From seeing Iris’ apparition to hearing voices of the lost souls I couldn’t save, the potion backfiring to now.
I left out Voldemort, I’ve decided that that was only a dream; he hadn’t tried to contact me anymore. It must have been a dream, he was dead. Harry had defeated him when he was a baby. No matter what my Granddad says, Voldemort was only a dream, a nightmare, made to stress me out more then I already was.
After a few moments of silence, Oliver spoke, “Katie didn’t you say that you had something to do, today, right now?” he looked at his watch.
Katie cocked an eyebrow, “I do?” her eyes widened, “oh right, dammit, I almost forgot…that thing…that I have to do,” she stood up quickly; “I’ll see you two later!” she called out running towards the school.
I turned my head to the side to face Oliver, “what was that all about?” I cocked an eyebrow.
He shrugged, “you know Katie, her and her ‘blond moments,’” I laughed. I wasn’t going to argue with him about that, Katie was always going on about having those moments; she had no problem with admitting it.
“So,” I began, “you ready for the big game?”
“It isn’t for another month or two, but yea, I’m ready…” he trailed off.
“Gryffindor is going to win,” I said confidently.
“How do you know, did you see it in a vision?” he asked hopefully.
I smiled, “you know that’s now how it works,” I let my head fall back onto his shoulder, “I wish it did, but it doesn’t…” he grabbed my gloved hands and entwined them with his own, which only made me smile even more.
“I know,” he kissed my cheek.
I let my mind wonder away from him, I don’t know why, but I suddenly remembered that it was his last year here, and I was barely in my fifth. He was two years older then me, he would leave in June, and I’d probably never see him again.
My chest began to hurt. I bit my lip.
What would happen? Would he make some famous Quidditch team? Would he forget about me, and meet some new people, a girl? Will he want to be with her then me?
“What’s wrong?” Oliver asked bringing me out of my depressing thoughts.
“Huh? Oh nothing,” I said unconvincingly.
“Nothing, eh? What’s wrong?” he asked again.
“Nothings wrong, I promise…”
“I know when something’s wrong so tell me.”
“I…this is your last year…” I finally said.
“Yea, and?” he didn’t seem to catch on to what I was saying.
“Ollie,” I pulled away from him and turned so that I was looking him right in the eye, something I wasn’t really use to, “this is your last year,” I said again, “I still have two more years to go.”
“Oh,” he blinked several times before finally letting what I said sink in, “is that why you’re being quiet all of a sudden?”
“You’re going to be gone, by the end of June, and I’ll be stuck here,” I said, “you’re going to go off and meet new people, maybe even a girl,” I let my stare wander off to the lake behind him, “you’ll want to be with her, and I’ll be holding you back…”
Silence…
More silence…
I sighed.
“It took me so long to admit how I feel about you,” he said putting his finger underneath my chin to make me face him, “I’m not going to let you go so easily.”
“That’s sweet but, Oliver, be reasonable--”
“I’m willing to wait for you,” he said cutting me off.
“Two years?” I tilted my head to the side, furrowing my eyebrows.
He nodded, “I don’t care how long I have to wait, but I will.”
“I don’t…”I let my head fall forward. Oliver was the only person that makes me want to cry and laugh at the same time. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want him to wait two years for me, I do, but I don’t want to be selfish.
“But if you want to see other people while I’m gone…”
“No,” my head snapped up.
“Then we’ll wait for each other?”
“Okay, but… who knows how we’ll feel about each other in two years.”
“I know how I’ll feel,” he said, “I’ll feel the same way I do know, and the years before,” then he quickly added, “my little Willow Tree.”
I shoved him, “you had to ruin the moment,” we laughed, “because of you everyone still calls me that.”
He shrugged, “not my fault if I’m a trend setter.”
“Yea, yea,” I glared at him playfully, “we should start heading inside--”
“NO!” he nearly shouted. I raised an eyebrow, “I mean we don’t hang around like this anymore lets just stay out here and enjoy it a little longer.”
“Okay…” I said slowly before laughing. Something was up, I knew it.
I pushed myself a little further away from him and lay down on the grass; Oliver soon followed my actions and lay down beside me.
“That one looks like a bunny,” he said pointing to a cloud in the sky.
I laughed, “I don’t see it.”
“Tilt your head a little to the side and squint your eyes,” he said.
I did what I was told, “oh it does look like a bunny,” I mused, “there’s the tail, the nose…” I looked over a few clouds older, “that one looks like a train.”
“Ah, that it does,” he said grabbing my hand. We stayed like that for the rest of the afternoon, looking at clouds, talking about how weird this year had been. Everything.
“Let’s head inside now,” he said standing up and held out his hand for me to take.
I did, gratefully and let him lead me inside the school.
Walking towards the Gryffindor tower, I noticed Cedric walking with books under his arms, probably just coming back from the library.
“Hey Willow…Wood,” he said after spotting us.
“Hey Cedric,” I noticed that whatever damage Oliver had caused him was gone, but I could see a fading bruise around his jaw line and a even smaller one underneath his left eye.
“Diggory,” being the guy he is, Oliver put his arm around my waist. I shook my head, frustrated.
“Can I talk to you,” he told me, “if that’s okay with you, Wood.”
I gave Oliver a pleading look after seeing the look on his face, “yea its okay,” he kissed my cheek, “try not to take so long, the guys will worry.”
I nodded.
Oliver began walking but stopped in front of Cedric, for a moment I thought Ollie was going to hit him, but instead he held out his hand, a peace offering, I thought. Cedric looked at it, and grabbed it, they shook hands, and Oliver was on his way, without another word. I guess that was their way of saying ‘Sorry.’ Guys are strange.
When he was out of sight, Cedric began to talk, “how are you?” he asked, “Haven’t seen you around lately.”
I shrugged, “I’ve been around, in and out of the hospital wing as usual…” I sighed.
He smiled, “well the reason I asked to talk to you was to give you this,” he reached inside of his robe and pulled out a small box, “happy birthday.”
My eyes went wide, it was my birthday? Oh crap it was! How could I forget my own birthday? “Aw, thank you, Cedric,” I took it from him, “how did you even know?”
He shrugged, “I have my ways, don’t worry. Open it.”
I did, “it’s a mood ring! I love these things; I lost mine during my fourth year!” I nearly made him drop his books when I jumped on him, giving him a tight, friendly hug. Now I remember why I liked him so much. I pulled away. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he continued to smile, “well, I got to go, and you don’t want to keep your friends waiting so I’ll see you later, enjoy the rest of your birthday.”
“Thanks again, Cedric!” I called after him, still smiling as I headed towards the Gryffindor tower, but that smile soon faded once I realized that, my friends, dad, Oliver and even Granddad had forgotten my birthday. I couldn’t really blame them though, this had been such a hectic year even I forgot, but I still felt bad.
I walked up the stairs and said my hello’s to the fat lady, who seemed to be acting strangely, before saying the password and walking into the common room.
It was dark, I couldn’t see. Then out of nowhere the lights turned on, and then of choir of voices yelled out “SURPRISE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILLOW!”
I cried out, being startled, they rushed to my side and hugged me, everyone in our house, the one’s that knew me hugged me, those that didn’t really smiled and said happy birthday again.
“I hope you didn’t think we forgot about your birthday,” Fred and George said.
“We’ve been planning this for a while now,” Lee walked over to us, grinning.
“It was Oliver’s idea for it to be a surprise,” Katie said smiling.
I looked over to Oliver, who had his hands in his pocket, looking bashful. I walked over to him and kissed him, “thank you.”
“You’re welcome, happy birthday,” he pulled me into a hug.
The room filled with ‘aw’s’ from the girls, ‘yea’s’ from the guys, and ‘get a room’ from several others that caused me to laugh, and blush.
“Make way for the birthday cake!” Angelina and Alicia both shouted approaching me with a chocolate cake, my favorite, with white frosting that read, ‘Happy birthday, our little Willow Tree.’ I groaned, but then began to laugh again.
Then someone began to sing, “Happy birthday to you…” soon ever joined in, “happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear, Willow. Happy birthday to you!”
“Make a wish,” Oliver said.
I pulled my hair back and leaned forward, I already had my wish, I was happy, but it didn’t hurt to ask for it to stay this way. I blew out the candles, and smiled.
I watched as Katie cut the cake, Fred and George passed some around. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. I received many presents, Dad and Granddad included.
I was happy; it had been the best birthday yet.
A/N: Sorry this one took so long, I’ve had the strangest week. It was spirit week at school. I took three exams, still studying for my PSAT’s for December, a friend, who had been missing for three years, came back. Drama…drama…and even more drama. Enough of my babbling, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review the story is nearing it’s end, and it would be nice to hear for those anonymous readers. Thank you!
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