Chapter 3
James does in fact find out about Oliver’s trip to the Hospital Wing. “Ollie!” He barely has time to brace himself before his brother is tackling him. He is— well he was on his way to Charms class when James came out of nowhere which means he was with Evan, Barty and Regulus. When I say James tackled Oliver- he tackled him. They’re both on the floor while James basically squeezes the life out of him.
“James,” Oliver wheezes out. “Can’t- breathe.”
“Shhh let me have this moment.” James smiles and squeezes Oliver harder. He swears he hears three of his ribs break.
“James-” Oliver chokes out. James huffs before getting up and helping Oliver to his feet. Oliver’s head is still slightly spinning from Mulcibur throwing him at the wall so Oliver has to grab his head to get the world to stop. James immediately is up in his space asking what had happened and what was wrong and what he could do to help. “James,” Oliver says slowly. “I’m fine. I’m just clumsy and happened to fall down some stairs. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
James’ frown deepens. “But you’re hurt, you’re obviously not okay.” He cups Oliver’s face and starts to move it in every direction like he can find all of Oliver’s secrets.
“James- James!” Oliver wraps his fingers around James’ wrists and pulls his hands away. “You can go beat up the stairs, if it makes you feel better, but I promise that I’m fine.”
James shakes his head. He wriggles his wrists out of Oliver’s hold to grab his hands. He opens his mouth and then glances at Barty, Evan and Regulus. James drags Oliver to the other side of the corridor. Oliver looks helplessly at his friends who look between each other. James squeezes his hands to get his attention. “Do you-” He pauses and then sighs. “Are you safe in your dorm?”
Oliver blinks at him. “What?”
“Are they hurting you?” James asks again with a quick glance at the Slytherins still standing together in a bunch. Oliver shakes his head immediately.
“Merlin, no. They would never.”
“But Sirius said-”
Oliver’s heart splinters.
“What about what I’m saying?” He’s trying to stay optimistic. He’s trying to remember everything his parents have said about misunderstandings and how things aren’t always as dull as they appear.
“He knows them better than you,” James says.
“Knows them better- they’re my roommates.” Oliver takes his hands back from James. “I know them. They would never hurt me.”
“But-”
“No.” Oliver shakes his head. “I won’t let you talk about them like that. I don’t know what has gotten into you but you aren’t the brother I know and love.” He walks around James and down the corridor. Barty, Regulus and Evan start following while giving looks to James, who just stands in the hallway, looking after his brother with his eyebrows furrowed together.
No one speaks the entire way to the Charms classroom. When they get there they sit down. Regulus and Evan sit on either side of Oliver, Barty next to Evan. They take out their books as Professor Flitwick starts to talk. Oliver isn’t paying attention. Does James really not trust his judgement? He knows what he’s doing. Evan, Barty and even Regulus would never hurt him. Evan wouldn’t because ever since Pandora said they were going to be friends, he hasn’t really left Oliver’s side- unless he’s with James, of course. Barty wouldn’t try anything because they share a dorm and are some form acquaintances and Regulus… Oliver looks to his left to see Regulus sitting there, eyes on the notes he’s taking. He could’ve sat next to Evan or Barty but he chose to sit next to Oliver. He chose to protect his dormmate because they’re friends. Whether Regulus wants to admit that is entirely up to him.
“Why are you staring at me?” Regulus whispers with his eyebrows pinched together.
Oliver blinks and realises that he has, indeed, been staring at him. “Just admiring the view.” He winks and Regulus rolls his eyes.
“I hope you die.”
“Mr. Black, Mr. Potter,” Flitwick says. The class quiets while Oliver and Regulus look up. “Were you paying attention?”
“Well of course, professor,” Oliver smiles. “Why would you ever think we weren’t?”
Flitwick tilts his head back. “What version of the spell Lumos is good against Devil’s Snare?”
“Lumos Solem,” Oliver answers. “And that would be because Devil’s Snare don’t like sunlight.”
Flitwick hums. “Very good. Mr. Black?” Regulus looks up at him. “What are the spells that can grow and shrink an object?”
“Reducio makes it shrink,” Regulus says. “Engorgio makes it grow.”
Flitwick smiles. “Well done. Five points to Slytherin.” He turns back to the rest of the class and continues on with his lesson. Oliver turns to Regulus with a grin. Regulus rolls his eyes and continues taking down notes. Oliver turns back to the professor and does the same, the smile never leaving his face.
“I’m sorry,” James blurts out. Oliver looks up from the book he was reading. He’s in the library with Lily. “I shouldn’t have said those mean things about your dormmates. I guess Sirius just got in my head and I was worried about you.”
Oliver shrugs. “It’s not a big deal.”
James looks very guilty as he rubs the back of his neck. “I was so in my head that I’ve been keeping your letters from you.”
“You’ve- what?” Oliver sits up, his book forgotten in his lap. “What do you mean you’ve been keeping my letters? I haven’t been getting any letters.”
James shakes his head slowly. He pulls out three letters from his book bag and sets them down on the table. Oliver grabs them and sees them all addressed to him, their parents as the senders. He opens the top one and reads it.
Ollie,
Hunny, we know now can’t be easy for you but we want you to know that we’re so proud of you. We know your brother’s friend Sirius isn’t that good with Slytherins so I can’t imagine James is taking this well either. However, we hope you know that no one is mad at you or thinks of you any differently. Hope to hear back from you soon with your lovely Hogwarts adventures.
With all our love,
Mum and Dad <3
Oliver puts the letter down and takes out the next one a bit quicker. He thought his parents just hadn’t been owling him at all. He thought they no longer cared for him because he got put into Slytherin. Or perhaps they were hurt or they’ve been busy so they couldn’t send any letters. Obviously, he was wrong.
Hunny,
We haven’t heard from you and it’s been a couple weeks. Are you alright? You know your father, he’s worried sick. I know he wants your Hogwarts experience to be good. We want you to have a wonderful time but we’re worried that you think of yourself differently because of your Hogwarts House. You shouldn’t. Write back so we at least know you’re okay.
With all my love,
Mama <3
Oliver stares down at the writing for a moment before looking up at James. He’s on the verge of tears and Oliver doesn’t know what to do because he wants to cry too but he can’t. He reaches for the last one less harshly. It was sent just this morning. He takes out the paper.
Ollie,
We still haven’t heard from you and it’s been a month. We’re seriously worried. James said you were alright but we’re not sure that’s the case. Is there something that’s going on with you that you think you can’t tell your brother? Whatever it is, you can tell us. (You know your dad is SUPER protective of you.) How are your classes? How about you answer that, yeah? We don’t need to talk about your house. Write back, Hunny. We’re really really worried.
With all our love,
Mum and Dad <3
Oliver puts down the letter with the others and looks down at the table. He takes a moment before looking up. “Why?” is all he can muster. Tears start to slip down James’ cheeks and it takes everything in Oliver not to start crying too.
“I didn’t know what to do,” James admits, his voice wobbly. “You were in Slytherin and I was so worried about you. Estabas en Slytherin y estaba muy preocupada por ti. No quería que te lastimaras. Sé que no te caíste por las escaleras porque eres una mentirosa terrible. Pensé que eran las personas de tu dormitorio, pero fue horrible de mi parte asumirlo. Lo siento mucho, Ollie. Por favor, perdóname.”
Oliver’s heart hurts when James slips into Spanish. He does that when he’s overwhelmed and his brain can’t function in English well enough to be able to form sentences. It makes Oliver feel absolutely terrible because he’s the one making James feel this way. No one is allowed to make Oliver’s brother cry— not even him. “Don’t cry, Jamie,” Oliver pleads. He gets out of his chair, setting the book on the table next to the opened letters. He moves around the table to hug his brother. James basically crumbles at soon as he’s in his brother’s arms.
James just continues mumbling “I’m sorry” in Spanish under his breath over and over again. His words are barely legible but since James’ face is buried in his shoulder, Oliver can hear him.
“Easy, James, easy,” Oliver whispers. He runs his hand up and down James’ back like their parents always do for them when they’re having a bad day. It gets James to calm down rather quickly. He lifts his head but doesn’t fully pull away. He sniffs and wipes his cheeks.
“I’m-”
“Stop telling me you’re sorry,” Oliver pleads. “I know, okay? James, I know you’re sorry. You’re always sorry.” He cringes as sadness fills James’ big eyes again. “Nope. I should not have worded it like that. Damn it. Okay, this is fine. James.” Oliver grabs his brother’s shoulders. He’s trying to keep himself together because he’s still not used to the whole him taking care of James thing. “Listen to me, okay? You are a wonderful person and an even better big brother. I know you love me and I know that whenever you make me sad or any emotion that isn’t happy, you feel so incredibly guilty. I know that, James. I’ve known that my whole life. You don’t need to tell me you’re sorry, because I already know.”
James sniffs again and nods. “Okay. I’m still sorry though.”
Oliver smiles. At least he’s back to semi-normal-James now. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.”
Something akin to recognition flashes across James’ face. “Speaking of, could you-” James cuts himself off and grumbles. He sighs and wipes his nose with his sleeve. “Ollie, could you spend the night in my dorm tonight? Not that you need to get away from your dorm, of course!” James, always quick to make sure he isn’t hurting anyone’s feelings, even on accident. “It’ll just make me feel better knowing you’re there with me.”
Oliver has to stop himself from melting. “Aw, Jamie. Of course. I just have to tell Regulus, Barty and Evan- oh and I should also owl back Mum and Dad before they think I died or something.”
James flinches. “Yeah… Tell them I’m sorry, too.” Oliver nods. He waves as James walks out of the library. He walks back over to his chair and sits down. He opens his book but doesn’t even get to find his place before he’s glancing over at Lily who’s staring at him with her mouth wide open.
“What?”
Lily blinks. “What in Merlin’s name was that?”
Oliver tilts his head. “What do you mean?”
“Well first off,” Lily adjusts herself on her chair and holds up one finger. “James complelty just did not speak English for half of that. Second-” she holds up another finger. “- he stole your letters and hid them from you. What is that about? Third-” And another finger up. “You just brushed that all off like that wasn’t the most toxic exchange I’ve ever seen.”
Oliver blinks. “What are you talking about? Toxic? That wasn’t toxic. My brother isn’t toxic. He’s kind and caring and sweet and he wants to make sure I’m alright.”
Lily lowers her hand while shaking her head. “Oh Oliver. He was basically manipulating you. He’s been doing it for ages, trying to get you away from your friends and huddled around with his. He doesn’t want you to realise you don’t need him.” Lily reaches over and puts her hand over his. “You’re so smart. I know you have potential. A lot of it. But it’ll never matter if you let your brother walk all over you. You may be a year younger than him but you’re sure as hell not lesser than him.”
Oliver takes his hand back. “I know I’m not lesser than him. He doesn’t think that, Lily. He would never think that.”
Lily sighs. She leans back and her shoulders sag. “You obviously don’t know older siblings. It’s what they do.”
Oliver blanches. “I don’t know my brother? My own brother? Are you insane? I know exactly what my brother’s like. He is sweet and he thinks about my safety, Evans. Your relationship with your sister might be crap but that doesn't mean that mine is. My brother loves me and it isn’t my fault that you have no idea what that looks like.”
Lily gasps softly and tears spring to her eyes. She starts gathering her books. Oliver realises what he’s done.
“Wait, no- Lily I didn’t mean that!” He tries to apologise but she’s already gone. He sighs deeply before slipping his hand under his glasses to rub his eyes. He groans and plops down in his seat. He’s never spoken like that to someone before. He’s much like his brother in that regard. Neither of them want to hurt anyone’s feelings. No one’s. Not even each others. Never each others. But Lily started talking about how James wasn’t who Oliver thought he was and- and the words just came out. They started flowing and there was nothing he could do. He didn’t say anything truly horrendous but he did hurt her feelings which is horrendous in and of itself. He’s horrified.
Oh no. He made her cry. He’s never made anyone cry before! And Lily… She’s been so nice to him. She was the only one who smiled at him when he got sorted into Slytherin. She’s the only one that’s been impartial towards him and doesn’t speak about houses and how they’re sort of a brand on people. She’s never done that and Oliver went and said all those mean things to her about her sister. She was only trying to help.
Oliver looks at the letters on the table. He runs his hands down his face before grabbing them and his book. He starts off to the Owlery while putting those things in his bag. He should really owl back his parents. He feels bad for making them worry.
But it wasn’t him who did that, was it? It was James.
Well no. That’s implying that it was his fault. It was no one’s fault.
Though he did literally steal the letters and keep important information from him…
Oliver shakes his head and continues walking, his fingers wrapped around his bag strap. He can’t think about that all right now. Right now, he has to write a letter for his parents. Dorcas Meadowes is standing on the bridge when Oliver gets there. She’s the only one standing on it, the other students either in their common rooms, the library, the courtyard- really anywhere that isn’t on a rickety old bridge that could fall apart at any moment and cause them to fall to their doom-… He’s sure he’s just exaggerating.
Oliver walks over to her. She’s leaning against the railing while looking out at the land that stretches beyond their view. Oliver takes the spot next to her and watches an owl that’s perched on a tree a little ways away.
“How’s the head?” Dorcas asks, not looking away. “And the back?”
Oliver nods. “Fine. It’s all fine. I feel fine.” Dorcas turns her head to give him a look. He sighs and a small smile lifts at the corners of his mouth. “Truthfully?” She nods. “I don’t know. All the physical pain I felt is gone. That’s not there anymore.”
“But the emotional pain?” Dorcas fully turns her body so she’s leaning sideways against the railing. “I can’t imagine being thrown against a wall just because your family doesn’t believe in all that Blood Purity bullshit is exactly wonderful.”
Oliver shakes his head. “It’s not. It’s really not, Dorcas.” He takes a deep breath. “It’s been happening ever since I got sorted.” He picks at the wooden rail. “There were so many people at the Sorting Ceremony that you don’t even think about anyone noticing you. Mostly, they don’t, but there are those few people who can pick up when people don’t belong.”
“Like a sixth sense,” Dorcas adds in.
Oliver nods. “Exactly!” He gestures around with his hands. “It’s not that I didn’t know there would be people who didn’t agree with my parents’ outlook on life- my whole life’s been like that, but it's different when its actually happening. My parents can try and shield me and James away from bad people but we’ll always know they’re bad. And they can tell us to go to our rooms as many times as they want but we’re always going to eavesdrop-” Dorcas raises her eyebrows and Oliver clears his throat. “That doesn't matter. What does matter is the fact that I’m okay. The bullying will take getting used to but I will get used to it.”
Dorcas shakes her head. “Oh Potter. You shouldn’t have to get used to it. No one should. You shouldn’t let ignorant pricks tell you what you can and cannot do, who you can sit with, how you do certain things. You just do it your way and they can suck it up.”
Oliver sighs. He props his elbow up on the railing and lets his head fall into his hand. “I know that. Some part of me knows that but I’ll never be able to stand up for myself. I just don’t do that. It isn’t who I am. I want to be able to do that but I just can't. I'm terrified of the person I’ll become if I’m mean to others.”
Dorcas hums. She looks out at the scenery again. “Who says it has to be you?”
Oliver turns to her. “What do you mean?” There’s something on her face. Dorcas looks down at her hands and starts laughing. She hangs her head, her shoulders shaking with laughter. Oliver glances around. “Dorcas?”
“You know that Ravenclaw you guys sit with?”
Oliver nods. “Pandora.”
Dorcas nods back. “Yeah. She came and spoke to me earlier today. It’s why I’m here. I come here when I need to think. Usually, no one bothers me.”
“Oh.” Oliver fiddles with his fingers. “Am I bothering you?”
Dorcas shakes her head. “No. I’m glad you came over, actually.”
“You are?” Oliver tilts his head. “Why?” Dorcas shrugs.
There’s a rustle of feathers as Ashe perches herself on Oliver’s head. It doesn’t scare him but Dorcas takes a step back, her eyes wide. “Woah.”
Oliver giggles. “Don’t mind Ashe. She does that.”
Dorcas also laughs. “I see.” She doesn’t move back to where she was before but she does turn to look back to the view. "Well the reason I'm glad you came here with me is because of Pandora. She really seems to care about you. What I meant before was that you have friends. Don't take that for granted. Pandora isn't the only reason I'm glad you came over. It's also because it gets awfully lonely out here. Usually I don't mind it but there's something about today that doesn't make me feel rather happy to be out here all by myself."
Oliver bites the inside of his cheek. “Dorcas?”
“Yeah?”
“What about your friends?” Oliver asks. Dorcas’ face twists and now he feels bad. “Not to be invasive, or anything. It’s just that I’ve never really seen you with anyone from your year — or any other year, for that matter and you don’t spend a lot of time in the common room.”
Despite the fact she looked very uncomfortable two seconds ago, Dorcas smiles. She takes a step closer and extends her hand up to stroke her finger across Ashe’s feathers. “I don’t have any,” she says simply.
Oliver blinks. “You- really?” Dorcas looks away from Ashe to raise her eyebrows at him. He screws up his face. “Bloody hell, I really suck at this, huh? Don’t answer that. What I meant was that I don’t get how someone as cool as you wouldn’t have friends.”
Dorcas smiles at him. A real smile. “That’s sweet, Potter. I don’t really tell people I have no friends because it usually only ends to bullying.”
“But you told me,” Oliver says.
Dorcas laughs. “Yes I did. I had a reason for telling you. You know how I said the Rosier girl came over to be before?”
Oliver feels joy bubble in his chest and he smiles. He always feels this way when someone pronounces Evan and Pandora’s last name correctly. As much as he and Barty like messing with them, it’s nice to hear others say it right without having to be asked or taught.
“She told me, out of the blue, that she was glad to have heard that I stood up for you,” Dorcas continues. “She said that it was nice of me to kick things off but that I’d need to try harder than that to find my footing.”
Oliver tilts his head which causes Ashe to dig her talons into his scalp to keep her balance. “Ashe!” Oliver winces. She hoots quickly before leaning down to brush her beak where her talons were. “Thank you,” he smiles. He focuses back on Dorcas. “So Pandora said we were your friends? I don’t get why that’s so weird. You did save me a headache that would’ve lasted a while and a pretty big bruise.”
Dorcas laughs. “You’re nice, Potter. I like you, I do, I just don’t do friends.”
Oliver snorts. “Oh you can not do whatever it is you like. When Pandora says something, we listen to her. We all do.” Oliver wraps his arms around Dorcas and smiles into her shoulder. “Besides,” he pulls away to see a very confused look on her face. “I like you too. You’re fun. I do have to run though. I have a letter to owl.” He looks down the bridge to the Owlery. “And write.” He looks back at Dorcas with a grin. “I’ll leave you to your thinking.” He turns around to walk away but he stops. “Oh, and you don’t have to call me by my last name. Faited friends such as ourselves should be on a first name basis. Of course, unless you prefer Meadowes then I’d happily do so.”
Dorcas shakes her head slowly. She seems to come to as she shakes her head again a bit more forcefully. “Dorcas is fine.” Oliver smiles and turns to face the Owlery again. “Hey, wait.” He turns back to her. “Thank you, Oliver.”
Oliver smiles big. “My pleasure, Dorcas. Bye!” He turns back and starts practically skipping to the Owlery. He makes it there and pulls out a piece of parchment and a quill from his bag. He paces the floor for a moment, Ashe still perched on his head. He taps the end of the quill against his chin. He stops pacing and sets the paper down on the table. Ashe hops off his head and onto said table. She tries to nip at the parchment but Oliver shoos her away. He starts to write.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I’m sorry I haven’t written back to you, I haven’t actually been getting your letters. James thought it would be funny to hide them from me as a joke, not knowing what he’d be keeping from me. I am alive and well and doing surprisingly okay. My dormmates are nice and one of them has a twin sister that’s in Ravenclaw. Her name’s Pandora. She’s super nice to me and very smart. I think you’d like her. Also Dorcas Meadowes, who’s a Slytherin (year above me) has been kind to me too. She took care of me when I took a tumble.
As for my dormmates, their names are Evan Rosier (Pandora’s brother), Barty Crouch Jr and Regulus Black (yes, Sirius’ brother). Regulus still hasn’t warmed up to me- or the other two, but he doesn’t hate us, so there’s a start. None of them are like James’ friends and none of them are like me but I still like them. I can’t wait to tell you all about them over the holidays and I can’t wait to see you both again.
As for now, dinner’s about to start so I have to send Ashe off. I’ll write more soon and tell you anything you want to know.
I miss you, as always,
Ollie
Oliver attaches the letter to Ashe’s leg. “Alright. Get this to Mum and Dad, yeah?” He strokes her feathers and she hoots. She nips his fingers before extending her wings and flying off. Oliver smiles after her before leaving the Owlery. Dorcas is gone when he walks along the bridge which is to be expected because they were cutting it close to dinner as it was. He makes his way to the Great Hall where he finds Regulus, Barty and Evan sitting together. Oliver sits down next to Regulus who’s on the side of the table closest to the wall while Evan and Barty are sitting together on the side closest to the Ravenclaw table. Sat opposite them at the Ravenclaw table is Pandora who is talking to the girls she shares a dorm with; Lacey Pickton, Monica Sterling, Kaitlyn Ledgerwood and Ellie Whitlock.
“Hello boys,” Oliver says as he sits down. He take off his bag and puts it at his feet.
Pandora turns around from her conversation to smile at him. “Oliver! Did you talk to her?”
He’s confused for a moment before remembering his conversation with Dorcas who had mentioned a conversation of her own with Pandora. He smiles and nods. “I did. She’s not getting away that easily. She’s stuck with us now.”
“Oh Salazar, has Panda found another stray?” Evan asks as he takes a bite out of a chicken leg. Oliver shrugs while Pandora rolls her eyes.
“I don’t find strays, Evan. They’re our friends.”
Evan gestures around with his chicken. “No, Panda, they’re not.”
“Okay fine then,” Pandora fully turns around, her legs no longer under the table. “They’re our will-be friends.”
“No.”
“Soon-to-be besties.”
“Worse.”
Oliver tunes them out as he puts food onto his plate. He’s not the biggest picky eater but definitely doesn’t like everything. He puts some baked potatoes on his plate. He glances at Regulus to see him staring down at his food. Oliver nudges him with his knee. Regulus’ head snaps up and his eyes glaze over for a moment before he comes to and realises where he is. His expressions turns into a scowl and Oliver frowns. “What do you want, Potter?”
“I-” He pauses because he hadn’t actually thought he’d get this far. He looks at Regulus before clearing his throat. “I wanted to tell you, Barty and Evan something.”
“What’s up?” Barty asks. Oliver turns to him, not knowing he was listening. Pandora and Evan are also looking at Regulus and Oliver.
Well now Oliver needs to think of something to tell Regulus, Barty and Evan because he didn’t think he’d get this far either. Then he remembers his conversation with James in the library. “Oh, I promised James that I’d spend the night in his dorm.” Barty and Evan make the same grossed out face while Regulus doesn’t make much of a reaction.
“Why?” Evan asks.
“Yeah, why does that dick need you to stay with him?” Barty adds.
Oliver rolls his eyes. “The insult isn’t necessary. He just wants to make sure I’m safe. It’s only for one night.”
“That’s how it starts,” Regulus puts in. Everyone turns to look at him which makes him squirm slightly though he keeps talking. “It’ll only be for one night and then he’ll ask again a few days later, and then again and again and again until you live there. He doesn’t like Slytherins and isn’t exactly quiet about it either.”
Oliver shakes his head. “It isn’t like that-”
“Isn’t it?” Evan asks. “We could hear your conversation with him, Oliver. You weren’t that far away. We know he doesn’t trust us and we know he thinks we hurt you.”
“We wouldn’t do that,” Barty says. “To you,” he adds as an afterthought.
Oliver sighs. “Well what do you want me to do? He started crying and I don’t know how to handle that. He felt really bad about keeping my letters and-”
“Wait, what?” Barty blanches. “What do you mean he kept your letters?”
“Well he was paranoid so he took the letters I was getting from my parents and hid them from me,” Oliver explains.
“Holy shit,” Evan breathes out.
Barty laughs. “Oh you’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Potter.”
Oliver frowns. “I’m… not?”
Evan shakes his head. “Oliver, he has no right to do that. Those are your letters and your private property.”
“Did he read them?” Pandora asks.
Oliver thinks back to when he opened the letters. “Umm…” He lowers his head. “Yeah. They were already open.” He looks up. “But James didn’t mean to make me upset and-”
“He made you upset?” Regulus asks, that same tone of voice and look on his face as when he asked about who hurt Oliver yesterday.
“He didn’t mean to,” Oliver insists. “He would never.”
“But he still did,” Pandora says in a soft voice. “Just because he didn’t mean to doesn’t change the fact that he hurt you.”
“What happened when he started crying?” Regulus asks. Oliver looks helplessly between his three roommates and Pandora. What could he say? Were they right? Was Lily right? Did he say those mean things with nothing to go by? Oh no.
“Well… He started ranting to me in Spanish which is what he does when he’s overwhelmed. He was saying how he was sorry and that he got worried because he knows I didn’t fall down the stairs because I’m such a terrible liar, apparently-”
“You are,” Pandora says.
Oliver glances at her. “He looked like he felt really bad and he apologised over and over again. Then he asked if I would stay the night in his dorm to make sure that I was safe.”
Barty scoffs. He grabs some chicken off Evan’s plate which causes him to get a glare that could kill. “He’s a fucking prick. Fuck face. He doesn’t give two shits about you, Oliver. He just doesn’t want you to get hurt which we didn’t even fucking do. It wasn’t our fault you got hurt. We didn’t hex you, Mulciber did. And Regulus was the one to get you to the Hospital Wing. Well, along with Meadowes but it’s the same thing.”
Oliver’s brain gets caught on a word so he doesn’t entirly process anything after that word. That name. Mulciber. “How’d you know who it was,” Oliver asks. “How did you know?”
Barty shrugs. “Does it matter?”
“Yes,” Oliver says. “Yes it does.”
“Regulus told us,” Evan says, not really paying attention to any of them. He looks like he’s planning a murder. Oliver’s not sure who’s exactly but he’s kind of hoping it’s his.
Oliver looks at Regulus. “You told them?”
“They asked,” Regulus shrugs. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“I lied to Madam Pomfrey about it,” Oliver says. “I didn’t tell you, I didn’t tell my brother, I didn’t want anyone to know because-”
“It’s happened before,” Evan says slowly like he’s figuring out his most greatest discovery.
“Because I didn’t want anyone to worry for no reason,” Oliver finishes the way he was going to before Evan interrupted. “I can take care of myself.”
“But it has happened before,” Evan says. “Admit it.”
“It’s not-” Oliver tries to speak but he barely gets a word in.
“How often?” Barty asks. “And it is always Mulciber?”
“Guys-”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Evan runs a hand through his hair. “Has it been going on since the first day and we had no idea?”
“Have you gotten seriously hurt and not been taken to Madam Pomfrey?”
“Do you have bruises?”
“Is there any lasting damage?”
“Who’s done it?”
“Avery was there too, right?”
“Did you-”
“Stop it!” Oliver yells. Everyone falls silent. Some of the people around them glance over but go back to their own meals and conversations rather quickly. “Just- stop.”
“We’re only looking out for you, Oliver,” Pandora says. “We want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Yeah but I don’t need you to,” Oliver tries to tell them. “I can take care of myself and when I can’t, then my brother steps up. I have it sorted.”
No one speaks for a moment. Then Barty does. “Why the fuck are you acting like we’re the ones bullying you?”
Oliver straightens up his posture. “You kind of are.” Barty scoffs. “Well you’re mean to me all the time. I don’t think I’ve heard you say one nice thing about me since we met. From any of you. Actually, the only person who’s had something nice to say to me is Pandora, and we’re not even in the same house, let alone the same dorm.”
Evan looks him up and down like he did the first day they met but with more malice. His face contorts. “I can’t believe you just said that. You know what, maybe you should go stay with your brother. Spend as much time there as you fucking want because I don’t want to look at you anymore. Spend all your time there for all I fucking care. I could sure take a break from your constant bloody happiness.” Evan leans forwards across the table. “You’re a Slytherin. Start fucking acting like it.” He pushes himself up onto his feet before walking away.
Barty gives Oliver a once over before getting up too. “We may not be the nicest group of people but don’t fucking think for a second that we chose to be here,” Barty says before following after Evan. Oliver looks down at the table. He sees Regulus get up from the corner of his eye. Unlike the other two, he doesn’t say anything as he leaves which is somehow worse. Pandora’s turned around to her friends when Oliver looks up again. He feels so lonely, sitting in the big hall. He’s surrounded by people and yet he’s by himself. People glance at him and he feels so small. He feels like he’s under a microscope. He feels like everyone can see every imperfection about himself now that there aren’t people around him to protect him.
He grabs his book bag and slings it over his shoulder. He gets up from the table and starts heading for the door. He doesn’t know exactly where he’s going to go because he doesn’t think he’ll be welcome back at the dorm but he has to go somewhere. He doesn’t even have any of his things. Well, he has his books, his mirror and his wand, which is all he really needs. Though a change of clothes and a hug would be better.
“You okay Ollie?” James slides his arm across Oliver’s shoulders and he leans into the touch. He hadn’t even noticed he’d stopped walking. He also hadn’t noticed the tears on his cheeks. James wipes them away and Oliver laughs at the irony. He’d told his roommates about how he didn’t need them, he only needed James and yet, now that he’s here, all Oliver wants is his friends.
Friends.
Were they his friends? Friends don’t do that. Friends don’t betray each other. Friends don’t say mean things. Friends are nice to you and are there for you. Friends look out from you. They protect you.
“Ollie, what’s wrong?” James asks. Oliver shakes his head and grips onto his bag strap.
“Nothing.”
James looks doubtful. “I won’t push but you know you can tell me anything.” Oliver nods and James squeezes his shoulder. “Come on. The others have already gone up to the dorm.”
Oliver lets James guide him to the Gryffindor Common Room. Oliver doesn’t know how James is planning on getting him in there because students aren’t allowed in other houses’ common rooms. “James-”
“Put this on.” James takes a cloak out of his bag and hands it to Oliver. As soon as he touches it, his eyes go wide. He looks up at James.
“He didn’t.”
James nods with a massive grin on his face. “He did. It’s so cool.” Oliver laughs and wraps their dad’s invisibility cloak around himself. “Okay. Follow close behind me.” James turns around and walks up to the portrait. It opens and he steps through. Oliver follows closely behind him. The Gryffindor Common Room is so much nicer than the Slytherin one. The walls are red and there’s roaring fireplace that some students are huddled in front of. There are couches and portraits on the walls. Unlike the Slytherin Common Room, the windows in the Gryffindor Common Room show the training grounds and there’s a good view of the quidditch pitch. James must enjoy that. Oliver hasn’t gotten the chance to talk to James about how Quidditch Tryouts went. He’ll have to ask later.
Oliver follows his brother through the common room and up the stairs. There’s two sets of stairs. Oliver assumes the other ones go to the girls’ dormitories. When they get to the dorm, James opens the door and steps to the side to let Oliver past him. The inside of the dorm is also different than his own. Remus, Peter and Sirius are inside, like James said. Remus is sitting on what Oliver assumes is his bed while Sirius is lying across Remus’ legs. Peter is sitting on the floor trying out some kind of spell on a flower pot. There’s clothes strewn across almost every surface. Sirius perks up as soon as James walks in. “James!” Is it strange how much Sirius reminds Oliver of a dog? Probably.
James smiles as he shuts the door. “Hi Sirius.”
Oliver takes the cloak off and looks around the room. “You guys have a nice dorm.”
Sirius’ smile only widens. “Mini Potter!”
“Hi Sirius,” Oliver laughs. James takes the cloak from his arms and sets it down on his trunk. He sits down on his bed.
“You’ll sleep with me tonight,” James says. “If you don’t have a problem with that, of course.”
Oliver shakes his head. “No problem. I uh…” He picks at the strap of his book bag. “I didn’t have time to grab things from my dorm before coming here so I don’t have another set of clothes or anything like that.”
James shrugs. “That’s okay. You can borrow some of my clothes. Not like you don’t already have almost my entire wardrobe in your trunk.” He raises an accusatory eyebrow. Oliver smiles innocently.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
James hums. “Oh of course.” He grins and pats the spot next to him. Oliver walks over and sits down next to him. Turns out the only reason James wanted his brother to sit down was to attack him. With tickles.
“JAMES!” Oliver yells, giggles spilling out of his mouth.
“Say sorry!” James tells him.
“For what?!” Oliver gets out through laughs. He tries to swat away James’ hands and he also tries to roll away but James doesn’t let up. It’s the older brother in him.
“Does it matter?” James asks, his smile evident in his tone.
“Oh fine fine! I’m sorry!” James stops the tickle attack and Oliver tries catching his breath. He stays lying down on James’ bed, his chest heaving. “You-” Oliver takes a deep breath. “Are a meanie, James Fleamont Potter.” James just smiles. Oliver sits up to see the look of plain hurt on Sirius’ face but it’s gone before Oliver can ask about it.
“You two done?” Peter asks. His eyebrows are pinched together as he concentrates on the flower pot. “Because I need to focus.”
“What’re you doing?” Oliver asks. He walks over to be on the floor next to Peter.
“Trying to get this spell Professor Flitwick taught us today,” Peter says. His tongue pokes out of the corner of his mouth as he tries the spell again. Oliver heart skips a beat and his mouth suddenly feels very dry. Is something wrong with him? Is he dying?! Okay, he’s probably not dying but he does need some water.
“You got any water, Jamie?” Oliver asks, his voice a bit shaky. What is wrong with him?
“Yeah. You alright?” James grabs a cup that was beside his bed. He hands it to Oliver who takes it with a small “Thank you”. He drinks some of it and the water soothes his throat.
“I’m alright. I guess I haven’t been drinking enough water lately.”
“How much water have you been drinking?” Remus asks.
Oliver shrugs. “Not a lot, obviously.” Peter groans in frustration as he can’t get the incantation right. “Would you like some help, Peter?”
“Don’t bother,” Sirius says. He lets his head fall so he’s hanging off Remus’ bed upside down. “He doesn’t want our help. Says it doesn’t count when we help him.”
Oliver frowns. He turns to Peter who shrugs. He tries again and the flower inside the pot bursts into flames. Peter rears back with a squeal and Oliver douses the fire with the rest of the water in the cup. It wasn’t a very big fire so the water did just fine. Peter’s chest heaves with breaths as he stares at the flower pot. The room’s otherwise quiet.
“Well that wasn’t supposed to happen,” Sirius says.
“What was the spell supposed to do?” Oliver asks. He looks between Sirius and Peter.
“It was supposed to make the flower grow,” Peter explains, still a bit dazed. “Sirius is right. It was not supposed to catch on fire.” He frowns and picks up the flower pot. “My poor flower.”
Oliver places a hand on Peter’s arm. “It’s okay, Pete.”
“Yeah, we’ll get you a new flower from the Greenhouses in the morning,” James promises. “For now, we should all get some sleep.”
“But you said we could-” Peter starts but one look from Sirius is all he needs to shut his mouth. Peter glances at Oliver and his shoulders slump. “Ohhh.”
Oliver raises his eyebrows. “Oh what?”
Peter’s eyes widen. “Uhhhhhhmmm.”
Sirius face palms. “Good save, Pettigrew.”
“Back off, Black,” Oliver rolls his eyes. “It’s fine. I don’t need to know.” He gets up and walks over to James’ bed. He holds out his arms to James who has a set of pyjamas already in his hands. Remus and Peter are the only ones that change in the bathroom while James and Sirius change in the dorm like Barty. Oliver doesn’t see how anyone can be comfortable doing that. Oliver’s not embarrassed of people looking at him, he just doesn’t like looking at other people.
James shuts the curtains of his bed and sits on it with Oliver for a bit. They talk about things and James tells Oliver all about the Quidditch team. He did make it (not that Oliver ever doubted he would) and so did Sirius. James as Chaser and Sirius as Beater. James rants on and on about Frank Longbottom who was in his final year at Hogwarts and was outwardly discussing who should be team captain when he leaves school. James is, as anyone would expect, hoping it to be him, though it’s highly unlikely that a third year would be picked to be team captain. James is still hoping anyway.
Oliver talks about how he wants to try out for Chaser for the Slytherin team next year and James encourages him to go for it. Oliver is very excited for the future. He can’t wait to grow up.