Blood

For the Love of Quidditch

Hours after the departure of Lee and Dean, I find myself in a large navy blue themed bedroom I know to be Oliver and I's. Oliver and Harry are outside running through some Quidditch plays while Pipky finishes setting up Harry's tower. Taking a look around the room I can't believe how far I've come since yesterday. Yesterday I was Hermione Granger, Muggle Born, third of the Golden Trio. Daughter of muggle dentists and utterly alone in the magical world save for Harry and Ron. Now I'm Hermione Potter, Half-Blood, older sister of Harry Potter. I'm dating Oliver Wood and about to kickstart a multi-million galleon business with Lee Jordan. I'm the furthest from my old self that I could possibly get without becoming a death eater. Running my fingers over the soft fabric of the bed sheets I can't help but also think how far this has brought Harry. He's no longer alone in the world, he's got a sister. He doesn't have to live with the Dursley's, he's got Oliver and I to stay with now. The ritual is beneficial to more than just me, it's helping Harry just as much.

Deciding the boys will be a few more hours before returning to the house I walk down the stairs from Oliver and I's tower and cross the corridor to the stairs leading up to Harry's. I quickly make my way up the stairs and push the door to Harry's room open, nearly gasping at the lavish aqua themed room Pipky had created. "Will Master Harry like it?" The small elf asks as she places a final pillow on the bed, and stepping back to eye her work carefully. "He'll love it, Pipky. We've never had very much of anything and he'll absolutely adore all the work you put into doing this for him." I say honestly, kneeling down to embrace the small creature. "Pipky is happy Mistress is pleased with her work!" She squeals, accepting my hug gratefully. Releasing the small elf I stand back to my full height and make to head towards the lab Lee and I had worked in earlier, only to be stopped by the gentle voice of Pipky. "Mistress had a delivery from the apothecary this morning, she did! Pipky put everything away, but Master Wood told her to leave the ingredients for the Wolfsbane on the table in the back!"

Confusion strikes me momentarily until I remember why Oliver would have instructed for the Wolfsbane ingredients to be left out. I'd had the idea several weeks ago to attempt to turn the potion into some sort of sweet for children afflicted with the curse... well for anyone really, but children are to be the main focus. "Thank you Pipky!" I exclaim, rushing from Harry's tower and down to the lab- transfiguring my clothes into a lab coat and apron as I go. Upon reaching the lab I quickly begin brewing a new batch of Wolfsbane before taking out the already brewed bottles from the cupboard. Lifting my wand I accio the coco butter, coco powder, honey, vanilla extract, and peppermint morsels from the kitchen and lay them out on the counter next to the Wolfsbane. Recalling the recipe my mother taught me as I child I quickly begin the process of making peppermint chocolate, pouring the potion into the mix just before I pour it into the half sphere moulds stored under the laboratory sink to cool. After casting a quick cooling charm I wrap them all in cellophane before pausing to examine my work.

Once I'm sure they're up to standard, I grab a handful of them and place them in a small black bag alongside several pain potions jellos and write a note, shipping them off to Lupin for testing. If he writes back next week and says the chocolates worked then I'll set up a meeting with Honeydukes to begin selling them in Hogsmede, then branch out to Mungo's. I turn my boiling potion down to a simmer and exit the lab, leaving my dirty lab coat and apron in the hamper by the door. As I make my way upstairs I hear the boys come in, making enough noise that one would think a heard of Unicorns had been unleashed in the house. Rounding a corner I run smack into Harry, who smells as though he's been living amongst trolls for the last fifteen years. "Take a shower before dinner." I gag, covering my nose with my hand. "You think I stink? Get a whiff of Wood." Harry laughs, stepping out of the way so Oliver can yank me into a smelly hug. "You both better get your behinds in the shower right this instant or it'll be your demise." I laugh, pushing away from Oliver.

Harry barks out a laugh and salutes me before taking off up the stairs to his newly acquired tower, leaving Oliver and I alone. "Come on then, I'll take a shower and you can read until I'm out- then I've got a surprise for you." He says, offering me his hand. With a small smile I take his hand and allow him to lead me up the stairs to our chamber, the echo of our footsteps pounding in my ears the closer we get to the bedroom. Upon reaching our bedroom he lifts me off my feet and deposits me on the window seat, handing me a large glittering green book. "I'll be back shortly, Love." He says kissing me on the forehead and crossing the bedroom to enter the adjoining bathroom. After I hear the water kick on I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding onto and glance down at the title of the book he'd handed me. Celtic Myths and Legends... not bad. I quickly lose myself in the pages of the novel, basking in my new knowledge of old traditions and legends of the magical people.

I don't budge from my reading until I hear the door to the bathroom sling open and Oliver cross the room to the dressers. Glancing up, my eyes drink in the sight of Oliver Wood clad only in a towel, his quidditch toned muscles glowing from droplets of water in the candlelight of the room. Swallow thickly, I force my eyes back down to the book and somehow manage not to look back up again until he's standing in front of me, fully clothed, grinning brightly. "So you know how I've been trying to decided between the Falcons and Puddlemere?" He asks excitedly, taking a seat across from me in my reading nook. "Of course love, half of Hogwarts is waiting on you to make a decision." I roll my eyes, knowing everybody in Gryffindor is probably biting their nails waiting on Oliver to choose. "Well... I've made my decision." He says, snapping his fingers. With a loud crack Pipky pops into the room, holding tightly to the cutest baby goat I've ever seen. "That's a Fireglow, they're a lot like goats except they never get any larger than that, and they live up to a hundred and fifteen years... they act a lot like dogs, Honestly."

Pipky places the small creature on the ground and I laugh as it stumbles around trying to get its footing on the slick wood floor. "What's it's name?" I ask as I stand from my nook and kneel down to stroke its head affectionately. Oliver grins widely at me, and winks. "Her name is Puddlemere." It takes a moment for realization to wash over me, but when it does I launch myself at Oliver with a squeal. He'd chosen Puddlemere! That's Harry's favorite team, right under Scotland National. "I signed a five year contract with Puddlemere, and after that's up they think I'll be recruited into the IQA. Apparently Scotland and Ireland have been watching me since sixth year, and Bulgaria and Germany have been asking about me since I signed with Puddlemere." He pulls a face at the mention of Bulgaria, not liking the idea of going that far for a team that's gone downhill drastically since Viktor Krums death in the Tri-Wizard tournament. As soon as the thought runs through my head my eyes widen to the size of kunts. Viktor Krum was killed during the Tri-Wizard... Holy Shit.

"Potter!" A voice calls from behind me as I stand talking to Lee about the attitude the twins little brother had caught with me earlier, nearly earning a nice hex to the arse. "Yes?" I question, turning to face the source of the voice, keeping my right hand on Lee's shoulder to ensure he doesn't leave. As soon as I am completely turned in the direction of the voice I find myself face to chest with Cedric Diggory. "I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to the ball?" He rushes out, nearly stumbling over his own words.

I feel Lee starting to shake with laughter behind me because he's witnessed me reject four invitations to the ball in the last hour and he suspects this will be the fifth. "I'd love to, Diggory." I sigh, finally accepting an invitation from somebody. "My robes have a yellow pocket square." He says with a grin before turning and walking back to his friends. Turning back to Lee I laugh softly. "I don't know why he told me his pocket square is yellow, I've already bought my dress. Hope he likes Gryffindor maroon."

This me didn't go to the ball with Viktor, I went with Cedric... which changed the outcome of the tournament...

I wonder what else we changed.