Everything- Oliver Wood

𝟜𝟜. 𝕋𝕙𝕖 "𝕃" 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕕 (𝔸𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟)

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"Sirius Black is in the castle! He's here!" 

A panic breaks out. People start chattering and clamoring for the door. 

Someone yells across the crowd. It's Penny. "Everybody shut up!" It goes quiet. "He can't get in here. We're safest if we just stay." 

"Are you sure he can't get in here?" A nervous looking Hufflepuff asks. 

"One of the conditions we set up was that no adults can get inside," Jacob nods. "Everyone stay in here. I think the prefects should go check in with their houses, though." 

Everyone seems to have calmed down. The prefects make their way through the crowd. 

"Be safe," I say to Penny as she passes me. 

"I'll be fine," she smiles, squeezing my arm. 

Nobody seems to be in much of a partying mood anymore. I take Oliver's arm and we go to one of the corners of the room and sit down next to a couple of other people from our year. 

I lay my head on his shoulder. "Won't they know that we're gone?" I ask him. 

"Maybe, but at least we're safe here," he shrugs. 

A couple of minutes later, a prefect from Gryffindor runs into the room. "Everyone's going to the great hall." 

"Should we all go with?" someone asks. 

"We're in ball gowns and tuxes," another person points out. 

"McGonagalls' NEWT transfiguration class knows how to transfigure clothes," Clancy says. 

"Yeah- everyone find someone who can transfigure your clothes and then go to the Great Hall," nods the Gryffindor prefect. 

I glance at Oliver. 

He shrugs. "I think it sounds like a good plan."

"We're just going to wander through the halls while there's a mass murderer on the loose?" 

"If we don't go, we'll definitely get in trouble." 

"What if we just let everyone else go? They won't notice if it's just us," I grin, poking him in the arm. 

"I think that sounds lovely," he smiles, kissing me on the forehead. 

We stay in our corner and wait for everyone else to filter out. Once almost everyone else is gone, Clancy walks over to us. 

"Come on, guys, we're all going to leave now." 

"We're going to stay here," Oliver says. 

"Really?" Clancy asks. "What about the murderer?" 

"I thought we already determined that he can't get in here," Oliver smirks. 

"They're not going to miss just the two of us," I nod. 

"Gross," Clancy rolls his eyes. "Well, don't get murdered," he says as he walks away and out of the room. 

Then, it's just Oliver and me.

"How're you feeling?" he asks. 

I chuckle. "Given the fact that there's a murderer loose in the castle, pretty alright." 

He smiles and laces our fingers together. "Have you heard from your parents?" 

"My mum writes to me," I nod. "She says she's doing good." 

"What about your dad?" he asks, tentative. 

"I'm not sure. Mum says that he's getting better. I guess I'll see when I get home for Christmas." 

Oliver nods. "I'm sure it's alright." 

I nod and lay my head on his shoulder. 

"Remember how I told you about my brother's wedding?"

"Yeah- we're going, right?" 

He nods. "I was thinking that you could come the night before and have dinner with my family." 

"You want me to have dinner with your family?" 

"You don't have to- I just thought it would be cool; they really want to meet you." 

"They do?" 

"I mean, yeah; you're my girlfriend," he chuckles. 

I nod, furrowing my brow. 

"You definitely don't have to-" 

"No, no, I think that would be good!" I nod. 

"And I was thinking about meeting your parents sometime," he starts. "But I know you probably don't want to do that." 

I glance at my hands. "I want you to meet my family, Oliver, I really do, but my dad is just so difficult-" 

"No, I know, it's okay," he squeezes my hand. 

"I'll think about it," I nod.

"How does your dad feel about me?" he asks, chuckling lightly. 

I pause for a second. "He doesn't know about you." 

Oliver's face falls. "What about your mum?" 

I bite my lip and shake my head.

"Oh..." 

"Oliver, I-" 

"No, really, that's okay."

"No, it's not." 

He shrugs. "I get it." 

I sit up. "Oliver, you're amazing, and I really like you, but I just don't know if I'm ready for my parents to know about us yet." 

"No, that's okay," he nods.

"Are you sure?" I ask. 

"Yeah. As long as you're comfortable, I'm happy." 

"Oliver, you're too considerate."

"Laurie, I really like you." 

"I don't want you to put me before you."

"Why not?" he glances down at our hands, and then back up at me. "Isn't that what love is?" 

I'm quiet for a minute. 

Love. Is this what love is? Is this love? 

"That's a big word," I say, almost breathless. 

"It's only four letters," he responds, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. 

"Love," I repeat, smiling. He presses his forehead against mine. "I think I like that." 

"Do you?" 

"Yeah," I smile and press my lips against his. 

"I like it, too," he grins.

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