The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 7: Growing Concern

Oliver sat by the fire in the common room.  He was tired but pleasantly so.  Practice had gone very well all things considered.  Angelina had threatened the twins only once for their antics.  She, Katie, and Alicia had found their groove they developed last year and were working in sync.  The twins, being the human version of Bludgers, continued to be one of the best Beaters teams he had ever seen.  He knew he was getting better as Captain and Keeper as well.

Harry was the real surprise, one that Oliver liked.  The boy was a natural on the broom.  He flew very well and was able to spot the Snitch reasonably well.  The best part was how strangely open Harry was to the team.  He accepted all advice without hesitation.  That was part of the problem since he wholeheartedly believed whatever nonsense Fred and George told him but they thankfully have not taught him any bad habits as far as flying or Quidditch went.

Most kids that grew up flying or playing Quidditch usually came with all sorts of preconceived notions or self-cultivated bad habits.  Most were beyond arrogant, refusing any kind of advice.  They believed they were the best and had nothing to learn, they were the worst kind of team mates.

Harry thankfully was nowhere near like that.  He accepted his shortcomings when it came to Quidditch and flying and soaked up information like a sponge.  Oliver knew that he had the makings of an excellent player and could stack up against all sorts of players.  In the last few weeks he had improved literally every practice.

His enthusiasm and increasing abilities were having a positive impact on the team.  Each player had spent time with Harry, teaching him their tricks as well as their positions on the team.  In helping Harry they were helping themselves, solidifying their own abilities.  Their team work was on the rise and it was one of the strongest teams Oliver had ever had the honor playing on.

Not to mention the other factor in their team comradery.

Oliver did not pretend to know everything that was going on.  The only thing he was sure of was that Harry had not had a...decent...childhood.  It was painfully easy to see once you noticed it.  Katie was adamant that something was wrong and Oliver trusted her instincts.  By now everyone on the team seemed to realize something was going on with Harry.

He was inordinately proud at how everyone had reacted.  The team was close as teams went before, got along well enough and were friends to one degree or another.  With Harry on the team, the way that everyone was rallying together to support the boy, they were approaching true friendship.  Instead of each player being concerned only for themselves, they were caring about Harry and in turn, each other.  It was a good thing.

Oliver stared into the fire.  Even he, who barely thought about much else that was not related to Quidditch, thought there was something wrong about Harry's personal life, something that should not be.  He still was not sure if they could do anything about it, not to mention what it exactly was, but he also knew they could not simply stand by and do nothing.  Harry needed them.  It was as simple as that.

"Ahem."

Oliver belatedly realized that this was at least the second time someone tried to get his attention, quite possibly the third.  The someone had stood to the side of his line of sight, someone with a very determined look on her face.  It took him a moment to place the expression, not to mention the person, then he knew he saw her last at dinner the other day.

"Oh hello," he said genially.  "Was lost in thought.  Sorry about that."

"Clearly," she replied succinctly.  The only description of the look on her face was 'clear disapproval' and it was so reminiscent of Professor McGonagall, Oliver nearly reacted like he was sitting in her classroom.