𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃-𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐨.𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝

CHAPTER TWO

THE SUN WAS JUST ABOUT SETTING PAST THE HORIZON as Oliver Wood stared out at the passing hills and valleys that afternoon. His mind stayed blank in the quiet compartment, allowing himself to bask in the emptiness while he could.

The sound of other students outside had been muffled through the closed compartment door, allowing his thoughts to wander. Although, anybody out of their right mind would've know exactly what he was thinking about. It's was all he ever thought about after all.

Already changed into his robes, his fingers aimlessly fiddled with the hem of his sweater vest, several quidditch plays replaying in his mind. There was a closed notebook next to him, pages inked at every inch with his thoughts and game strategy — though nobody dared to ever open it really. It was like his prized possession. You take away Oliver's playbook, it was like taking away part of his soul.

He was just about to write another idea down before the sudden sound of his friend's return had gotten his attention.

"It's like each year they get worse and worse," Alec Thompson huffed as he limped into the compartment. He let out a grunt, scratching his head irritably while adjusting the red and yellow tie he had just wrapped around his neck. "I just found a toad in the toilet after some first years came running out. What are they doing putting a bloody toad in the toilet for gods sake?!"

Oliver snorted a light laugh, "maybe they thought it was frog. They like water, yeah?" He leaned back on his seat while he watched his friend plop down across from him, hearing the long sigh that escaped his lips. At that, he perked up an eyebrow, giving Alec a look. "You alright?"

"No." He replied simply, "I literally can't walk by myself for more than three seconds." Another long sigh escaped his lips as he lightly kicked the crutches that rested beside him, frowning as he watched them fall. "These bloody things are annoying."

"Are you sure your knee is unrepairable?" Oliver questioned, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, "like you really can't use magic for those guys anymore?"

"Nope," Alec shook his head, "I asked the nurse at St Mungo's the same thing. Apparently I've injured it too many times that magic will just make it worse... now I have to heal like a goddamn Muggle."

Oliver frowned. "I didn't know that was a thing," he admitted, "but now I have to find a new seeker and chaser. Why the hell did you have to do this to me?"

"It's not my fault that bludgers just love to kill me," Alec shrugged, "you know, you could have some concern to the fact that I quite literally almost died."

Oliver stared at his friend, rolling his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, the bludger hit your knee while you were like five feet in the air."

"But who's idea was it to hand Davis' sister a bludger bat?" the boy countered, "you know she's had it out for me since forever."

"She's like six years old-"

"And she's already tried to kill me twice!" Alec cried out. He ran a stressed hand through his black hair, "when you said we'd be playing a 'fun game of quidditch' I wasn't expecting to have a near-death experience."

Oliver scoffed. "Well you're alive now aren't you?" He stated, "you'll be fine. As for the team, on the other hand..."

"Will you stop worrying about the house cup for five seconds?" Alec groaned, "I'm trying to express my struggles here! You know, a part of my soul died that day..."

"No it didn't." Oliver countered, "You'll literally be back playing in like 12 months."

"That's a whole year, Oliver!" The boy gasped, sinking in his seat as if the meer thought made him shiver, "how would you feel if you couldn't play quidditch for a whole year?"