The Education of Oliver Wood

A Bumpy Road

Despite his earlier thought that it might not be good to see Percy again, Oliver found himself sitting across a table from his old friend, the two of them with pints. He still wasn't completely sure just what it was that made him send the owl asking to meet up, but he suspected it was something to do with what Wilda had told him.

He had spent a few days thinking it over and she had a point. He desperately needed to get his shite together and so far, he had failed on his own. And Carpenter and the lads were most definitely not helping. In the past he would always go to Emmie, but that was obviously not an option. And without her, he wasn't sure where to turn. As much as Wilda seemed willing, he didn't want to open up much more than he already had to his captain. He figured if anyone would understand, offer him sound advice as well as the occasional kick in the arse when needed, it would be Percy.

"I was a bit surprised to get your owl," Percy admitted, dragging Oliver from his thoughts. "Forgive me, but you didn't seem so keen on meeting up again last time."

"Bit surprised that I sent it, myself," Oliver said. "But... Figured it might be good. Reconnect and such."

Percy nodded slowly.

"I saw the latest... about the party," he said cautiously, wondering if that was the reason Wood had contacted him.

Oliver stiffened slightly as he looked down at his glass. He still hadn't gotten the look of pain in Emmie's eyes out of his head.

"Aye... that was... unfortunate," he said, not looking at Percy.

"Unfortunate?" Percy said with a snort. "From the way the papers made it sound, you were snogging some other woman and then had a bit of a tiff with Flint and Mac."

"That's no what happened," Oliver said, looking up at him. "There was no fight. She was out on a balcony... and I accidentally stumbled out there..."

"With another woman," Percy added.

"Well... aye... that bit was true," he said, looking back down at his drink. "Figured she'd be there... wasnae sure if I was ready to see her... had too much to drink..."

"And thought snogging the Harpies seeker was the best way to handle that situation?" Percy said, getting straight to the point.

Oliver looked up at him, frowning slightly. Though his voice was clipped, Percy didn't appear angry, more so that he was trying to understand what was going through Oliver's mind. And even Oliver couldn't be mad at the comment.

"I dinnae ken what I was thinkin'," Oliver said honestly. "I saw her with Flint before that... she was laughin' and seemed to be having a good time... Carpenter commented on it... said I should meet the seeker..."

"So you were trying to get even, was it?" Percy asked, perplexed. Oliver frowned again.

"No. I was... I was tryin' to get over her. Been tryin' to get over her for almost two bloody years," Oliver said, running his fingers through his hair.

Percy's stern look faded as he took in just how distraught his former best friend was. He had long known that Oliver wasn't handling things well. Nor was he over Mac even though he couldn't fathom why he would break up with her in the first place. It had all happened rather quickly in his mind, though must have been months in the making. Watching him now, Percy couldn't help but wonder if Oliver had spoken to anyone about Mac or Ryan.

"You never told me why you broke up," he ventured. "Was it... did it have to do with Cedric? Or Ry-"

"I left her," Oliver said, back to staring at his glass and cutting Percy off before he could mention his brother. "That's all ye need to ken. It just... it wasnae workin' after... with everythin'... I thought she'd be better off without me..." Percy was silent, watching as Oliver fought to keep his expression neutral, though the pain was obvious in his eyes. "Still think she's better off without me..."