Chapter 49
Now…
“You and Charlie seemed to have played quite the long game when you were growing up then,” His therapist mused wryly.
Oliver gave a small laugh, “You were a young stubborn kid once too weren’t you?”
“I believe we are here to talk about you Oliver,” His therapist replied, a small smile on their lips. “Please continue, we have all the time in the world.”
Oliver sighed, “I remember when that seemed true to me too.”
Then…
Oliver walked blindly through the streets of Hogsmeade not noticing or caring if Marcus or anyone else had followed him. He was confused, angry, sad, jealous, and had zero awareness of his surroundings. He had meant to return to Honeydukes and thereafter the castle, but he had ended up on the outskirts of Hogsmeade instead. Oliver sat himself on a rock and stared at the strange creaking building in the distance. It looked so lonely away from the rest of the village that Oliver could relate to it.
“Oliver! You snuck out to Hogsmeade too?!” Fred’s voice broke Oliver out of his thoughts.
He turned to see the twins approaching, laughing and playfully shoving each other. “Did you come all alone?” George asked, his brows furrowing together in confusion once they got closer to Oliver.
Oliver thought about lying, but he was then reminded of the scene he had seen in The Three Broomsticks. Charlie, relaxed, holding hands with another boy, not a care in the world. Why shouldn’t he and Marcus be the same? It wasn’t fair. “No, actually I came here with Marcus but I…lost track of him,” Oliver finished lamely.
“Marcus? Marcus Flint?!” George asked, his eyes wide.
“You have been spending a lot of time with him…” Fred said curiously.
“Listen…you two are my best friends, I can trust you right?” Oliver’s heart was pounding in his chest, and he wondered why it was becoming so hard to breathe.
“Of course you can!” Fred said with a grin.
“You can tell us anything mate!” George added as he and Fred sat down near Oliver.
“Marcus and I aren’t just friends. We’re…together. He’s my boyfriend…and I’m gay.” Oliver looked away, to the lonely building again and waited for their reactions.
“Oh..alright then is that all?” George asked with a laugh.
“Honestly Oliver I’m more worried about your questionable taste in guys. Marcus Flint really?” Fred groaned, but his eyes were looking at him teasingly.
Oliver’s heart slowed and his breathing evened as a surprise laugh came out of him, followed by a choked sob. “You two are…you two are the first people I’ve told.” Oliver wiped his face.
Aside from Charlie, the voice inside his head said tauntingly. But, this was different. Oliver wanted things to change, and the first steps to that seemed to be coming to terms with himself and letting others know that, without fear.
“So, where is the little gi- I mean, where is Flint?” George asked, after Fred jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow.
Oliver laughed, “I’m…not entirely sure actually. We were heading into The Three Broomsticks and I sort of had a…” Oliver broke off not sure how to tell Fred and George that the reason he had left Marcus alone was because he had panicked when he had seen Charlie holding another boy’s hand of all things.
“An urge to see The Shrieking Shack? We’re going to see how close we can get and see if there are any ghosts!” Fred said excitedly, gesturing to the creaking building.
Oliver stood and shook his head, “No I should go back and find Marcus I just needed a place to…think.”
“Oliver? Thanks for telling us, we won’t say anything to anyone unless you tell us differently,” Fred told him.
“We’ve got your back,” George added, clapping him on the shoulder.
Oliver smiled at them, grateful that he had people like them in his corner, “Thanks guys, I’ll see you later?”
The twins nodded at him, before turning their attention back to the Shrieking Shack. Oliver worried about them getting caught, but shook it off. They were Fred and George, they would be fine.
Oliver returned to the village a short walk later, feeling a little lighter. A twinge of guilt hit him as he realized that Marcus was likely looking for him. Oliver entered the bar again and squeezed his way through the crowd, thankful he did not see Charlie or the other boy again.
“Wood! There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you, I can’t believe I lost you in here,” Marcus grinned at him, his green eyes filled with joy and wonder as they looked around the bar.
Once they were settled in a corner table with their butterbeers Oliver decided to tell Marcus (mostly) what he had been up to when he had gotten lost. “I ran into Fred and George and-” Oliver noted the look of alarm on Marcus’ face before continuing, “don’t worry they are the last people to let a teacher know we snuck out.”
“I would hope so, they get into enough trouble as it is,” Marcus grumbled, drinking some of his butterbeer.
Oliver rolled his eyes, “They are my friend Marcus, besides I…decided to tell them that I’m gay and that we’re together.”
Oliver realized that maybe blurting it out like that wasn’t exactly the best option…if Marcus’ shocked expression was anything to go by.
“You…what?!” Marcus asked at an alarming volume.
“Don’t worry, they won’t tell anyone,” Oliver pleaded with him.
“You should have at least asked me before you just decided to tell someone that you, that we,” Marcus broke off with a groan. “I’m going back to the castle,” He added, and stood up from the table abruptly.
“Marcus, wait!” Oliver tried to follow him, but apparently Marcus was just as good at the disappearing act as Oliver was. Sighing frustratedly, Oliver decided to return to Honeydukes as well. He walked the streets alone and cut through an alleyway where he practically ran into Charlie and the blonde boy kissing.
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” Oliver exclaimed, making both of them jump.
Charlie’s blue eyes widened as he saw Oliver’s annoyed face, “Ollie wait!” Charlie called after him, but Oliver had already turned to detour around them and return to the passageway that led back to Hogwarts.
Now…
“Quite the memorable trip to Hogsmeade then?” His therapist observed.
Oliver sighed, “You could say that. It was definitely an interesting day, and it was only going to get harder from there.”