Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Oliver and Charlie walked behind Fred and George, as the twins pelted snowballs at each other and the other boys.
Charlie laughed and threw a snowball back at them good naturedly. Oliver was enjoying the break, painfully aware that his own home was just over the hill. He hadn’t dared visit his mother, fearing her response would be awful.
“So, what new classes are you enjoying, Charlie? The third year is when you can take some different ones right?” Oliver asked him curiously.
Charlie’s eyes lit up excitedly. “ Yeah it is! I’ve loved Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Grubbly-Plank shows us all kinds of beasts! It’s easily the best class at Hogwarts.” Oliver grinned at him. He laughed as another snowball hit Charlie square in the face, but was quickly stifled as one landed square in his chest. “Hey! Are you two going to fight back or not?!” Fred called to them.
Charlie grinned at Oliver mischievously. “Let’s get them!”
Oliver scooped up snowball after snowball and threw them at the twins. In a matter of minutes it was an all out snowball war. It was getting to be a little dramatic, the four of them diving in front of their teammates to avoid them getting hit. Ron and Ginny watched from a safe distance, cheering them on.
“Look out!” Oliver yelled, before throwing himself at Charlie tackling him to the ground to avoid a double onslaught from Fred and George.
Charlie and Oliver lay there for a moment, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Oliver watched the falling snowflakes land and melt on Charlie’s freckled face. Oliver knew he had a crush on Charlie. It was a ridiculous stupid thing. Charlie wasn’t going to feel the same about him, why would he? He probably saw Oliver as one of his little brothers, nothing more.
“Oliver!” His mother’s stern voice cut across the clearing.
Oliver scrambled up and off of Charlie quickly, and turned toward his mother. She stood not terribly far away, the wind and snow billowing around her dark robes, cutting an ominous figure.
“Mother?” He asked. He was confused and angry. Why was she here? Why now? Was she worried about him?
“Get away from them!” His mother practically spat at him.
Oliver stepped away from Charlie, who now stood beside him, glaring back at his mother.
“I’m just having fun.” Oliver said defiantly, and really why was she here? She hadn’t written or looked for him here until today.
“Fun?” She scoffed. “You should be training. This weather is perfect for practicing in extreme weather.”
Oliver stared at her, mouth slightly agape. “That’s why you’re here? Training? Hi Mom, how are you? It’s been a few months. Would you like to know how I am?”
She rolled her eyes, taking a step forward. “I can see you have enough time for fun so you must have time for training. That’s the most important thing for you Oliver.”
Oliver couldn’t believe this. She didn’t care. She still only saw him as some sort of machine, some magical amazing, Quidditch Keeper. Not her son.
“He’s not going with you.” Charlie’s voice rang out clearly.
Oliver’s eyes widened and he instinctively stood in front of Charlie. His mother’s eyes also widened, before she pulled her wand out of her robes and lifted it at them.
“Don’t you dare give me orders boy.” His mother’s voice dripped with venom.
“And don’t you point your wand at my child.” Mrs Weasley had appeared, Oliver hadn’t noticed her leave the house.
Oliver looked around and noticed that Ron and Ginny had retreated further back to the house. They must have gotten their mother once the shouting had started.
“Lower your wand. Now. Put it away from my children.” Mrs Weasley told Oliver’s mother coldly.
Surprisingly, his mother listened. “He is my son. I can order him around if I want to. He’s coming home with me.”
“He was invited here by my sons. He isn’t leaving unless he wants to.” Mrs Weasley shot back.
Oliver stepped between the two of them. “Please just, everyone else go back inside.”
“Ollie..” Charlie said, looking at him worriedly.
“Let me talk to her. Please.” Oliver addressed Mrs Weasley, not wanting to look at Fred, George, or Charlie. It was embarrassing how his mother was acting.
The Weasley’s retreated back to the Burrow, leaving him alone with his mother. “I’m not going with you.” He said flatly.
His mother stared coldly back at him. Her gaze could’ve rivaled that of the frozen wasteland they stood in. “Oh really? You get a little bit of independence and suddenly think you don’t have to listen to me? You’re just a boy!”
“Funny. Now that I’m not listening to you I’m just a boy? A kid? Not your little prodigy?” Oliver felt a stab of satisfaction at the surprised look she returned to him.
She laughed humorlessly at him. “Fine. Stay here. But, you’ll be home with me for the summer. You will resume training. Whether you like it or not.”
Oliver stared after her, as she walked toward the hill, before he heard the loud crack of apparition and his mother disappeared in the wind.
Now…
“So you were able to stand up to your mother?”
Oliver nodded, barely meeting his therapist’s eyes. “If you thought it would get better. It didn’t.”