Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Oliver sat in the mostly empty Great Hall, flipping through the pages of Quidditch Through The Ages. He glanced up at the enchanted ceiling where snow was steadily falling and smiled, relishing the fact that he could enjoy the beauty of the snow but from inside where the hearth was warm and his plate of christmas goodies kept refilling. Most of the other students were gathering their trunks for the Christmas holiday, excited to see their families. Oliver, well Oliver couldn’t really relate to that. He was actually happy to be staying at Hogwarts for the holiday. He hadn’t heard from his mother at all, the silence had been deafening. To be fair, Oliver hadn’t exactly tried to reach out either but he figured it would be best not to reach out to her. After all, he was just a disappointment. Never mind the fact that Professor McGonnagal had praised him as one of the best first years she’d had in Transfiguration in a long time. Or that he had gotten the best grade in Herbology on an essay on Devil’s Snare. No, nothing mattered to his mother other than his Quidditch achievements.
“Oi! Oliver! What are you doing down here? Go pack your trunk!” Fred’s voice rang loudly into the hall, jolting Oliver out of his bitter thoughts.
“Er…what?” Oliver looked up at the twins, who had their trunks at their sides and Gryffindor scarves wrapped around their necks.
“Well, you see…” Fred started
“We wrote to Mum about it….” George continued
“And she told us you could come home with us for the holiday!” Fred finished with a grin.
“If you want to, that is.” George added hastily.
Oliver couldn’t believe it. He hadn’t realized that Fred and George would offer to do that. Then again, they had become very good friends of his over the past couple of months. Often, they had snuck around the castle looking for more secret passages on the mysterious Marauder’s Map. Bill and Charlie of course, hadn’t approved of them wandering around the castle at night, but turned a blind eye to their younger brothers actions.
“I…yeah that would be great. Let me go pack!” Oliver stood, grinning, and ran out into the main hall and up the grand staircases.
Maybe the holiday wouldn’t be so lonely after all…
Oliver stood on the crowded platform 9 ¾ trying not to stick out like a sore thumb. It was difficult, considering the five Weasley’s were all taller than him and all red headed.
“Boys!” Mrs Weasely called to the group.
Oliver joined the brothers as they swarmed to their mother, trying not to suffocate in the tight hug Mrs Weasely gave him.
“So glad to have you join us dear! You’re looking a bit peaky haven’t you been eating enough?!”
Oliver blushed and looked away, only to find Charlie grinning back at him. Which, of course, certainly didn’t help things. Just add that to the list of reasons Oliver was glad to not be going home to his mother for the holidays. She would’ve known he was distracted by something right away, and he shuddered to think about what she would do to get the information out of him.
“Mum, don't squash him!” Bill said with a laugh.
Mrs Weasely released him, and then ushered them all along through the platform and toward the wall that held rows and rows of fireplaces.
Oliver watched nervously as Bill went first announcing The Burrow quite clearly, before disappearing in bright green flames. He had never traveled by Floo Powder before. His mother wasn’t one to let him go much of anywhere.
“Don’t be nervous dear, I’ll be right behind you.” Mrs. Weasely said kindly, as the last of her children burst into more green flames.
Oliver smiled weakly at her, before taking a handful of dirt and stepping into the fireplace. “The Burrow!” He yelled, before the world disappeared before him, all he could see were green flames. He tensed, expecting them to burn him. But, they felt comfortingly warm.
He tumbled out of another fireplace moments later, and laid on a rough floor flat on his back. “Ow.” He said, feeling stunned.
“Watch out there Ollie, Mum will be coming though in a moment I bet.” Charlie said, pulling Oliver up onto his feet, and dusting ash and dirt out of his hair.
Oliver hoped his face was dirty enough to hide the blush creeping across his face. “Er…Thanks Charlie, I got it.” Oliver said, wiping his face and clothes off. He pulled his trunk out of the way next, before Mrs Weasely stepped gracefully out of the fireplace, green flames dispersing behind her.
Oliver stole a glance at Charlie, wiping the dirt off of his face, revealing the splash of freckles on his nose. Oliver had had a few months now to come to terms with it. He definitely liked Charlie. He wasn’t sure what to do with that information. He highly doubted Charlie felt the same way, so he wasn’t planning on telling him anytime soon that’s for sure.
“Come on Oliver! You can put your trunk in our room!” George told him.
Oliver followed Fred and George up the wooden winding stairs of the Burrow. No matter how many times he was inside this house he couldn’t get over how wonderful it was. It was so….well, magical. His own house had never felt like this, despite his mother being a witch.
“Careful there, Ollie.” Charlie said quietly behind him, as Oliver tripped and almost fell on his face.
“Thanks.” Oliver choked out, as Charlie scooted past him farther up the landing toward his own room with a grin.
This was going to be a long break…