Chapter 21
Now…
His therapist eyed him sympathetically. “So, it wasn’t like Charlie felt the same way I see.”
Oliver snorted, almost laughing at the memory.
His therapist smiled kindly at him, “Obviously with time, you seem to have gotten over that particular moment.”
Oliver hesitated, “I wasn’t really proud of how I dealt with it at the time. But, I suppose when you’re twelve how else would you have reacted?”
His therapist nodded. “You’re more mature now, and it worked out in the end didn’t it?”
Oliver raised an eyebrow at his therapist. “If it did I wouldn’t be sitting here with you, now would I?”
Then…
It had been a few weeks since Charlie had left Oliver in the Trophy Room. Oliver was dealing with it the best way he knew how. Avoiding Charlie and sulking as much as possible.
Oliver still went to Quidditch practices, and afterwards he flew around the pitch by himself, yelling into the cold winter air until his throat hurt.
Charlie either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He kept himself busy with his new friend Rosalie. They had been spending more time together even after their “project” had finished. Charlie was kept occupied by Quidditch, his classes, and Rosalie.
There hadn’t been any more help from him in the Trophy Room since.
A small, very tiny, part of Oliver’s brain logically told him that this was fine. Charlie wasn’t actually his, it’s not like Oliver had told him how he felt about him. How could he? Oliver barely understood it himself. Maybe it was just a crush and he’d grow out of it. Hell, Oliver wasn’t even sure if he was gay, or straight, or just…attracted to Charlie? Was that even a thing?
It landed in the list of things Oliver was decidedly not worried about.
He was more worried about not finding anything in the seemingly never ending Trophy Room, if he should stay at Hogwarts or not for Christmas, and the current ranking of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
Not necessarily in that order.
It was another weekend, and Oliver was itching to get out of the common room and back to the Trophy Room. The Quidditch practice had been canceled due to hazardous conditions.
So, Oliver sat in the common room, glaring out one of the tower windows at the snowflakes whipping around wildly in the breeze. He couldn’t see much beyond that so he supposed it was a valid enough excuse to cancel practice.
Oliver sighed, standing up and deciding to head to the Trophy Room. “Might as well get it over with,” He muttered to himself.
He was getting increasingly disappointed with just about everything in his life at that point. No leads on his father, not a word from his mother still, Charlie was busy, Quidditch practices getting canceled, it was looking pretty bleak.
“Hey, Oliver! Fancy helping us out with something?” Fred called to him near the fireplace.
Oliver eyed the twins suspiciously for a moment, before shrugging and walking over. He needed a distraction, and Fred and George were always good at providing just that.
“Sure, I’m game. What are you two planning?”
George feigned surprise. “Us? Planning something? Why on earth would you say that?”
Oliver grinned for what felt like the first time in days. “Maybe because you’ve been curiously quiet and haven’t gotten detention in a few weeks.”
Fred laughed, “Alright, you caught us.”
“We were coming due, you’re not wrong.” George said, nodding sagely.
“So, we have a plan for the corridor near the Great Hall. Nothing harmful…mostly. If we get caught we’ll be sure to get you out of there too, wouldn’t want our golden boy to get in trouble.” George said, nudging Oliver.
Oliver rolled his eyes, “I appreciate your concern. What’s the plan?”
“George and I have found a way to…extend the Great Hall’s weather enchantment so to speak. We want to bring some winter fun inside since it’s bloody crazy outside and even the two of us aren’t crazy enough to go out there.” Fred said, eyes wide with excitement.
Oliver stared at them, mouth hanging open. “How did you…how are you going to-”
“Ah ah, no questions Oliver. We just need your help keeping any eye out for Flitch and others while we work our magic.” George said.
Fred snorted, “Good one Georgie.”
Oliver looked at them confusedly, “If I’m the lookout though, how am I going to run off at the first sign of trouble? That’s almost a guarantee the two of you will get in trouble.”
Fred shrugged, “I think the idea is that we’ll see you running off and follow suit. As soon as you see anyone, Filch, Snape, McGonagall, you run by us and we’ll know we’ve been found out.”
Oliver grinned, adrenaline already coursing through his body. He was excited and giddy for the first time in days. “Alright, I’m in but just…be careful you two.”
“Careful is my middle name,” Fred said with a laugh.
George snorted, “Yeah and mine’s Responsible. Come on, let’s go.”
Oliver laughed, following the twins out the portrait hole and down to the Great Hall’s entryway. It really was a long corridor and Oliver was curious to see how they were going to pull the prank off.
“George you go to one end, I’ll get this one. Oliver, stay there and let us know if anyone is coming.” Fred said.
“Here, take this, it’ll help.” George added, pulling the map from his sweater pocket.
Oliver was surprised, the twins rarely let anyone use the map besides the two of them. He felt strangely honored.
“I can’t believe you two happened on this in Filch’s office last year. If you would only apply the same genius and cunning to your schoolwork you’d be unstoppable.” Oliver told Fred, keeping his eyes focused on both ends of the hallway for anyone approaching.
Fred snorted, “Please, we were meant for bigger things than education Oliver seriously.”
Oliver grinned, turning his attention back to the map. He couldn’t help it, his eyes started to wander over the map, searching for a different Weasley.
He had just located Charlie, who appeared alone, not too far away. “What is he..”
Oliver broke off, as a terribly loud gust of wind rushed through the corridor, resulting in an icy explosion that left the whole corridor covered in snow.
Not just a dusting either, Oliver guessed it had to be easily a couple of feet of snow.
“Err…we may have overdone it.” Fred said with a nervous laugh.
Oliver couldn’t help but just stand there and gape at the corridor. “It’s really…something that’s for sure.” Oliver said, suppressing a laugh.
“Oi! You mucked it up Fred!” George called as he waded through the piles of snow towards them.
While the twins began to argue about what went wrong, Oliver looked back down at the map and gasped. “Hey, quit it you two! Run now!” Oliver told them firmly, shoving the map back at Fred and turning and sprinting off in the direction of the Trophy Room. It seemed a decent alibi should they actually get caught, Flitwick and McGonagall had seen him there a few times.
Fred and George ran off in two different directions, and Oliver could faintly hear the surprised tones of the heads of house and the angry one of Filch once they reached the corridor behind Oliver.
“Ollie! I was wondering if I’d catch you in here, you have to come see this!” Charlie’s excited voice greeted Oliver upon entering the trophy room.
Oliver was surprised to see him here. He hadn’t offered to help Oliver with his search since he started seeing her. “What are you doing in here?” He asked, his mood returning to its normal doom and gloom.
Charlie’s steps faltered, and he blinked in surprise and confusion. “I had some time and I wanted to see if I could help and I’m glad I did because-”
“Oh you finally had time for me? One of your closest friends? Wow, I feel honored. Not off snogging Rosalie somewhere? I’m shocked.” Oliver crossed his arms, fixing Charlie with an icy glare.
Charlie’s blue eyes filled with hurt. “I didn’t know you felt that way about it Oliver. Maybe if you had talked to me about it instead of avoiding me you wouldn’t feel this way about Rosalie and I.”
Oliver’s heart sank. “So, it really is you and Rosalie then? She’s your what? Girlfriend?”
Charlie’s cheeks flushed. “Err…yeah I suppose she is. Why are you so upset? I’m sure you’ll have your own girlfriend soon enough.”
Oh, the agony Oliver thought, how could someone so good and kind be so oblivious? “Right, well, maybe I will, maybe I won't. I don't really have time for that.”
Oliver looked down at what Charlie was holding, desperate to change the subject. “I appreciate the help, but I’m almost done searching in here anyway so thank you but I can take it from here.”
Charlie held up the plaque in his hand. “That’s just it Ollie, I’ve found it, found him. Your dad.”
Oliver felt like the room shifted on its axis. “You’ve…what?”