The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

Oliver's Ending: Old Habits Die Hard

"Goodnight, Oliver Wood". "Goodnight, Scarlet". And as we stood on the porch of the Burrow on that wonderfully starry night, we stared into each other's eyes. There was no need watch the twinkling stars above, which were no more than balls of gas, when we could simply stare into the depths of one other's eyes and find stars if not brighter, then equally as bright as the ones that shined above us. "Is it bad that I don't want to leave?" He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me so close to him that there was no longer space between us. "It is. Because I don't want you to leave either". I wrapped my arms around his neck. I still had to crane my neck to look up at him. Oliver was a good bit taller than me. We both sighed simultaneously. After Hogwarts I moved in with the Weasley's along with the George, Ron, and Ginny. With the weight of Fred's death, they needed me. And I needed them. Harry gave me time

"Sorry for intruding". I apologized to Mrs. Weasley as Oliver wheeled our belongings through the threshold of the Burrow."Don't mention it. You're family, Scarlet. We didn't even give the idea a second thought". Said Mrs. Weasley who eagerly welcomed us into her household. "Scarlet, which room is ours?" Oliver panted as he began carrying the luggage up the many flights of stairs. "Up one more flight, down the hall, and to the left". I hollered up to him. "So what brings you two here?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Actually, I'd like to tell everyone at once. It's a bit of a sensitive subject". "I completely understand. I'll gather everyone and meet you in the living room". Said Mrs. Weasley who gestured for me to sit in one of the many vacant seats in the living room. "Ron, George, Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley stood in the middle of the stairwell and yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth, further amplifying her voice. There was a soft pop, one of Molly Weasley's famous screams, followed by a thwack. George entered the living room, rubbing the back of his head. "Just because you've got permission to use magic outside of Hogwarts, doesn't mean you should go whipping out your wands!" George mimicked his mother as he seated himself, but immediately stopped once Molly Weasley entered the room, forcefully gripping the ears of both Ron and Arthur Weasley. She threw onto the couch before joining us. "We're all here. So, what brings you here, Scarlet?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "Well..." I was interrupted by the munching of chips, and the sound of Mr. Weasley tinkering with multiple screws and nails that weren't a match for his selected screwdriver. "This is a family meeting". Said Mrs. Weasley. "So?" Asked Ron and Mr. Weasley simultaneously. "Meaning, no snacks, and no inventions". Mrs. Weasley snatched away Ron's bag of chips and Mr. Weasley's invention in the making, and locked the confiscated items in one of the kitchen cabinets. When she rejoined the two who were still complaining, she glared, silencing the two. She nodded at me, signaling that I should begin.

**A few days prior**

"Scarlet, I'm home". Oliver said, gently shutting the door behind him. "Oliver.." I sat on the couch, my heart feeling heavy. "Yeah?" Oliver threw his dirty clothes into the hamper and began packing his suitcase. "We need to talk". "Can't it wait?" He glanced up at me before continuing to pack his suitcase."Well...." I trailed off. The news I had, to say the least, wasn't pleasant. "Well Scarlet, I'll be off to my game". Oliver kissed me on the forehead before making his way to the door. As much as I hated being the bearer of bad news, I couldn't postpone it much longer. I shouted to him across the room just as his hand approached the door knob. "Oliver, you're not going!" "What do you mean I'm not going?" "Oliver, there is no game". "Of course there is. My teammates are waiting just outside to pick me up". I shook my head. In disbelief, Oliver sprinted towards the window, to prove me wrong. "Oliver, you can't play quidditch anymore". I crossed my arms, taking somewhat of a defensive position. Quidditch was Oliver's life. He wouldn't take this lightly. "You know what quidditch means to me, and you still tell me that I can't play anymore? What gives you the right?" "Oliver...." I hesitated. "Just say it, Scarlet! What gives you the right!" He was screaming more than asking. "Oliver, it's just that I want what's best for you". "How would you know what's "best" for me!" Each word was a dagger plunged into my heart, slightly pulled out, and plunged back in again. I could feel a wetness forming in the corners of my eyes, but that didn't seem to affect Oliver in the slightest. "Have you ever cared what's been in my best interest? Like how about when you pushed me away in fourth year? Because I certainly remember that not being in my best interest!" Oliver continued. That last sentence struck a nerve within me. "Your best interest? I haven't been paying attention to your "best interest"? So when I pushed you away so that you wouldn't get sucked into my business of being a Death Eater in fourth year, that was in my best interest? Or how about when I told Harry the whole truth in its entirety, breaking his heart in the process, so the two of us could be together? Or when I spent those worrying endless nights alone while you were off playing quidditch? Well, I apologize for doing everything in my best interest. And you want to know why you can't play quidditch anymore? Because after your last game, the doctor told me you've had one concussion too many. That one more encounter with a bludger could cost you your life. But I know that this isn't in your "best interest". So for wasting all of your time, that I apologize for". When I finished, Oliver blinked a few times, before he was fully able to absorb all the information I had poured out. "Scarlet..." His facial expression had softened, and as did his voice. He reached for my forearm. I flinched, and retracted from his touch. I was far too angry. "Allow me to be the one to leave, for once". I said, slamming the front door behind me.