Harry Potter: The Green Arrow of Hogwarts (Book 3) (Fan Fiction)

Chapter 8: The Unexpected

As the group returned through the tunnel towards the tree, Sirius offered a grimace of apology. "Sorry about the bite. I imagine that stings a bit."

Ron glared at him, his face a mixture of pain and frustration. "A bit? A bit?! You nearly took my leg off!" Harry and Sirius helped Ron, doing their best to ease his discomfort.

Sirius tried to deflect with a touch of humor. "I was aiming for the rat, you know. Normally, I'm quite docile as a dog. James even suggested I make the transformation permanent once. The tail I could manage, but the fleas—well, they're unbearable."

Harry cracked a smile despite the situation, leading the group as they helped Ron and Peter out.

Once outside, they propped Ron against the tree, and the team examined his leg.

Ron winced. "You better go."

Harry shook his head. "No, I'm staying. It's fine."

Bella stepped in, determination in her voice. "You go. I'll stay."

Oliver nodded in agreement. "We'll stay. Just go."

Harry followed Sirius, leaving the others behind.

Ron groaned, glancing at his leg. "Ow. It looks really painful. So painful, they might need to chop it off."

Bella tried to reassure him. "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will fix it in no time."

Ron shook his head, a note of despair in his voice. "It's too late. It's ruined. They'll have to amputate it."

Oliver bent down to meet Ron's gaze, his expression firm. "It won't be chopped off. I promise you, everything's going to be fine."

Hermione stepped in, gently pulling Oliver aside. "I'm going to talk to Ollie. Take care of him, girls."

Cassie and Bella nodded, taking up the task of tending to Ron's injury.

Once Oliver and Hermione were away from the group, Hermione turned to him, her expression serious. "Were you actually going to do it?"

Oliver looked puzzled. "Do what?"

Hermione's gaze was piercing. "You were determined to kill Pettigrew. I saw that look in your eyes. I'm not oblivious, you know."

Oliver sighed, rubbing his forehead with a weary hand. "I... I don't know. I was just so angry. It felt like the only way to get justice. And unless you forgot, that son of a bitch got my dad killed."

Hermione replied, "Baby, you need to let this anger go. It's eating you alive, and I can't always be there to save you from yourself."

Oliver said, "That's the thing... you always will. No matter what I do, you're there to pull me back from the edge because of how much you love me. But I wanted so much more from Pettigrew. I wanted to snap his neck, to make him suffer like I did. Five years of torture changes you. It warps your mind."

Hermione's eyes softened with concern as she gently placed her hand on his. "I understand the pain, Ollie, but vengeance won't heal the wounds. Let me help you find a way to heal, without losing yourself in the process."

Oliver asked, "Do you really understand the pain? You weren't tortured, Hermione. I was. Every single day for five years. I had to do exactly as I was told, or I'd die. And that bastard—he's the one who set it all in motion. Everything that happened to me is his fault. So, yes, I wanted to kill him."

Hermione looked into Oliver's eyes, her own filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. "I know it's hard, Ollie. But holding onto this anger—it's like drinking poison and expecting it to hurt someone else. You've been through so much, and I don't want you to let this hatred consume you."