Chapter 28
Spring arrived, bringing with it damp rainy weather that matched Oliver’s mood. Marcus wasn’t much better, either. Spring meant that the school year was almost over, which meant returning home to their not so happy homes.
Others were in a foul mood for different reasons. Bill seemed to finally be feeling the pressure of O.W.L exams now that the end of the year was approaching. The calm, collected prefect could now be found holed up in a quiet area of the library or common room, glaring at anyone who made too much noise.
Oliver tried not to notice, but Rosalie and Charlie seemed to always be bickering, as far as he could tell from the one eye he tried not to keep on Charlie. He was doing his best to try not to care too much about the situation, but he couldn’t help smirking to himself whenever he would see the two of them arguing or looking annoyed with each other. It wasn’t the healthiest thing to be doing, deep down some part of Oliver knew that, but he mostly felt a sense of relief. Maybe he and Charlie could be better friends again, once they could spend more time together and Rosalie wasn’t always there.
Oliver swore she could sneak up on someone easier than one of the actual ghosts at Hogwarts. Seriously, it was scary.
Marcus, Fred, and George, became Oliver’s solace when he needed time to de-stress or s study buddy. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were also good study buddies, and Oliver found himself growing closer with them while he helped them with their first year exams.
“That’s it! You’ll be levitating people in no time!” Oliver said encouragingly as Alicia successfully performed the levitation charm. She had struggled with it for most of the year, and she danced around excitedly as the feather floated around the empty classroom they were in.
Oliver jumped, as a glass vase shattered near a desk in the back of the classroom. “Reparo!” Katie said confidently, grinning as the vase repaired itself, looking in perfect condition.
“Nice one!” Angelina called from the front of the desk, where she sat working on a History of Magic essay.
Oliver grinned, surprising himself. He never thought he would end up having a group of friends.
~~~~//~~~
Speaking of friends, Oliver found himself studying with Marcus up in the Astronomy Tower, on a rare sunny day.
“Why did we come up here again?” Oliver asked, looking up from his notes.
Marcus’s dark hair fluttered in the surprisingly warm breeze, he looked up at Oliver, quill in his mouth as he flipped through his potions textbook. “I wanted a change of scenery, and the library and Great Hall are always packed with people anyway.” Marcus said with a shrug. “All the bloody older students are acting like trolls anyway if you so much as breathe in their direction. It’s…peaceful up here. I could use some peace before I head home in a couple of months, couldn’t you?” Those damn green eyes bore into Oliver, making him look back down at his notes.
“Yeah, you’ve got a good point there,” Oliver said with a sigh, before they returned to their work, the sound of their quills scratching on parchment the only sound on the wind.
Feeling brave, Oliver cleared his throat and looked back up at Marcus. “You will write this summer won’t you? I can’t guarantee my mother won’t intercept my letters but I planned on writing to you so…I guess I just want to make sure I won’t be wasting my time is all.” Oliver finished lamely, hoping he didn’t sound like an idiot.
Marcus looked up at him, a surprised look on his face. “Of course I planned on writing to you, Wood. Merlin knows we’ll both need a lifeline this summer with our crazed parents. Speaking of, you still haven’t heard from your mother?”
Warmth bloomed in Oliver’s stomach at the thought of writing back and forth to Marcus all summer. It quickly faded as he brought up his mother. “No, nothing yet. I almost wish she’d write just to yell at me. Then I would at least know what to expect. The silence is…terrifying.”
Marcus nodded, “My dad does the same thing. You know you messed up when he keeps on ignoring you…but then he’ll strike when you least expect it.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow at Marcus, “Gee, thanks, I’m so much less worried now. You really know how to help,” He said sarcastically.
Marcus laughed, “I never said I would try to make you feel better, Wood. Besides, I’m sure you’ll be too busy with your Weasley friends to write to me. Don’t they live right near you?”
Oliver’s mood was somehow brought even lower. “My mother doesn’t really like them, so it’s hard to see them aside from school.”
Marcus looked surprised, “Oh? So is that why you haven’t been talking to the bigger one there? I can’t keep their bloody names straight, there's too many of them. The Seeker there, I remember you two always talking, so what’s the story there?”
Oliver looked back down at his schoolwork in surprise. He hadn’t realized Marcus had paid that close attention to him. “It’s…complicated. He was originally helping me find things out about my father but he kept pushing me to ask one of the professors and I’m not sure I want to know and then he’s always with his annoying girlfriend and we kept fighting about things and now we’re just….I don’t even know. I’m not apologizing and neither will he apparently so,” Oliver shrugged, looking back up at Marcus.
“Look, it’s none of my business that stuff with your dad, but hell Oliver, even I’ve wondered why you haven’t asked someone for more information. Don’t you want to know?” Marcus asked, his face curious.
“Of course I do!” Oliver said loudly, surprised at his own outburst. “But what if I’m better off not knowing, what if the truth is something horrible? Or what if it’s amazing and he just left me home with…with her. Maybe I like the idea that he’s just an asshole who left me. I can’t imagine what I’d do if he turned out to be decent and left. Who would do that to their kid?”
Marcus held his hands up in surrender, green eyes wide. “Alright, alright! Forget about your dad for a moment. What about Charlie? There’s something more there than what you’re telling me I think.”
Oliver looked back at his notes, avoiding Marcus’ piercing gaze. “There’s nothing to tell,” He grumbled.
Marcus sucked in a breath, “Shit. You like him don’t you? Like…more than a friend. That sucks, Oliver, I’m sorry.”
Oliver whipped his head up, stunned. “What! No, I don…how did you even, you don’t-” Oliver sputtered, breaking off.
Marcus shrugged, and gave him a knowing smirk. “I know what it’s like to have a crush on a guy who’s a friend, and who’s straight. Well, I guess I know he’s not straight now I suppose.”
Oliver felt like he was falling off of the Astronomy Tower, as the realization dawned on him. “You….what?!”