Saving Audrey

Chapter 8

After Christmas, Audrey got back into her regular routine at Hogwarts. This consisted of running with Oliver and hanging out with Oliver, the twins, and some other third years in the Gryffindor common room. It no longer bothered her that most of her friends were younger than her. She did have Oliver and her year, and she and Penelope Clearwater had become quite close, but she didn't get to see her as much since she was in Ravenclaw.

Finally, it was spring. Audrey had always loved spring. It meant the start of softball season and another round of cheerleading tryouts. However, this spring signified none of that. Audrey could not find a reason to be happy about spring now. Sure, she had Quidditch, but she was only on the reserve team and they were so far ahead that she was certain they could lose their final match and still win the cup. It was not looking like the house team would need anybody to step in anytime soon, either.

"Do you know what anyone has planned for Hogsmeade tomorrow?" asked Oliver as he and Katie ran around the pitch early one Friday morning.

"I'm not sure. I know that Fred, George, Lee and the girls are all going together. They invited me, but I always feel like I am breaking into couples time, even if they all deny it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I can see what Percy has planned and if he has no big plans, maybe you and I can just hang out?" Oliver asked, hoping Percy didn't have anything planned.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Answered Audrey, hoping her cousin was planning on staying behind and studying OWLs. Of course, thought Audrey, I should probably be doing just that. Luckily, Audrey was going to be allowed the summer to study for and take her OWLs if she didn't succeed at the end of the year. Still, she was hoping to enjoy her summer and not worry about Hogwarts classes again until September.

"Audrey, wait up." Audrey turned around to see Penelope Clearwater jogging up to her on their way to the Great Hall. "I was, um, just talking to Percy and we were wondering if the you and Oliver would like to hang out tomorrow with us and a couple of other kids from my house?" Audrey hoped that Penelope could not feel the disappointment in her voice when she agreed. It wasn't that she didn't want to see Penelope. Hogsmeade trips were one of the only times she really got to talk to her. However, Audrey was still hoping to get to spend the day along with Oliver, even if it was just as friends.

"Hey Oliver, come here." Oliver looked to Percy sitting down at the dinner table as he walked into the Great Hall. "I just kind of, well, ran into Penelope and she and I were talking about hanging out at Hogsmeade with a couple of other kids from her house. Do you and Audrey want to come?" While Oliver was excited that people assumed he and Audrey were a package deal, he was disappointed that he would not have her to himself tomorrow. Nevertheless, he agreed.

Audrey woke early the next morning to get ready for Hogsmeade. Even if she wouldn't be alone with Oliver, she would be spending the majority of her day with him, and she wanted to look her best. She took a quick shower and began fixing her hair. For the first time in months, she decided to leave it down. Carefully going through her wardrobe, she chose a light blue halter-top and khaki shorts and slipped on a pair of light brown leather flops. It was the first time she had looked like her old self since she had arrived at Hogwarts. She then put on her robes, even though she knew she would take them off as soon as she left the school property, and headed down to meet Percy and Oliver.

The three Gryffindor fifth years walked into three broomsticks, looking for their Ravenclaw friend. They finally spotted her at a booth in the back and went to join her and her friends. Percy immediately took the seat beside Penelope. Oliver sat on his other side, leaving Audrey between him and a girl with long blond hair. It also put her across from a gorgeous guy she recognized from Quidditch. Penelope quickly introduced her friends. The girl was Elizabeth Turpin and the boy was Roger Davies. Both were in their fourth year and Roger was captain of the Ravenclaw house team.

After a couple of rounds of Butterbeer (except for Percy, he stuck to pumpkin juice), the six set off to do some shopping. Oliver, Audrey, Elizabeth and Roger wanted to head to Zonko's. The ever responsible Percy and Penelope were not to keen on this, so the group split up. Elizabeth spent entire day trying to walk beside Oliver and get his attention. Audrey vowed not to let it show this was getting to her, she could not afford to let her feelings for Oliver get in the way of their friendship. Instead, she walked behind with Roger, talking about Quidditch and other stuff. By the time they were heading back to Three Broomsticks, Audrey had discovered she had a lot in common with Roger and thoroughly enjoyed his company.

Oliver could not believe that Audrey had ignored him the whole day. She didn't seem to care about Elizabeth gushing all over him. This shouldn't have surprised him; he knew they were only friends. Still, he had hoped she would have some kind of reaction to Elizabeth. Audrey spending the day with Roger Davies was not what he had expected. Those two seemed to hit it off really well and Oliver knew better than to try to break up their discussions. Still, as annoyingly obvious as Elizabeth was about her crush on him, she was gorgeous, so he made the most of her attention. When he noticed Roger and Audrey walking back hand-in-hand, he swallowed his emotions and grabbed Elizabeth's hand.

The reserves team's season came to an end, and to no one's surprise, Gryffindor won the cup. It was nothing like the House Cup, but Audrey was proud of it. The next weekend, Gryffindor would be fighting for the house cup. Needless to say, there was plenty of partying until late hours in the Gryffindor common room. Audrey had a blast, but sadly to say, it was the last time she hung out with her Gryffindor friends for a long period of time that year. With the end of her season, she spent the rest of her time studying for her OWLs and with Roger.

She was surprised the day he had grabbed her hand on the way back from Hogsmeade. When she glanced back to see Oliver's reaction, she saw him grabbing Elizabeth's hand and didn't make a move to release hers from Roger's. Ever since then, she had been spending a lot of time with Roger. She had also noticed Oliver had been spending a lot of time with Elizabeth. She wondered if Percy and Penelope were together a lot too, since their friends had seemed to pair up.

It was all Oliver could do to keep from crying. Harry Potter was still in the hospital wing the day of the Quidditch finals and the reserve seeker had not been able to pull Gryffindor through. Oliver knew without a doubt he had the best team at Hogwarts, but once again, the cup was not his. To make matter worse, Audrey had simply given him a hug and a sad condolence over the season's outcome, but couldn't stay and talk because she was on her way to meet Roger. Oliver was supposed to be meeting Elizabeth as well, but he was too upset and knew she would never understand.

Both Oliver and Audrey were too wrapped up in their OWLs the remainder of the school year and didn't really get a chance to talk. After they finished their tests, both seemed to have similar ideas and headed towards the lake. When they ran into each other by the rock they used to sit on and talk all the time, neither knew what to say. Finally, Oliver broke the ice.

"So, how are you and Davies?"

"Pretty good. How are things with Elizabeth?"

"Over."

"Geez, I'm sorry."

"It's ok, we really had nothing in common. You're lucky. You and Davies both love Quidditch."

"Yeah, um, I guess it's nice to have something in common. Anything else bothering you? You don't sound like yourself."

Finally, Oliver couldn't take anymore and began shouting. "I don't sound like myself? How do you know anything about me anymore? Ever since you fell in love, you haven't seemed to have time for anybody else."

"Oh, you're really one to fucking talk." Audrey was now shouting as well. "I'm surprised you know what anybody else is doing as wrapped up as you were in Elizabeth and Quidditch. You know nothing about my relationship with Roger or me for that matter." With that, she marched off, leaving a speechless Oliver.

Oliver and Audrey did not speak the remainder of the week at school. They didn't even share a compartment. Oliver sat with Percy and Penelope and Audrey chose to sit with Roger and Elizabeth. When they got off the train, Audrey stayed behind while the twins and Percy said good-bye to Oliver. Before walking off, he turned to look at her. Audrey saw the pain and his eyes and wondered if hers were identical. She realized they probably were. Without a second thought, she dropped her stuff and took off running.

Oliver turned as he felt someone grab his arm. He was hoping it was not Elizabeth. He still could not explain to her why he had suddenly called things off with her. Hell, he himself didn't know why. He was surprised when he turned around to bright green eyes. It was the same eyes he had fallen in love with less than a year ago, although it seemed like an eternity.

"Oliver, look I am sorry. We were both really stressed and I know you were still upset about the cup. I didn't mean to yell at you and I know you didn't mean to yell at me. You are the best friend I have ever had and I am sorry if you think I pushed you aside for Roger, I didn't mean to, honest. I am so sorry Oliver, I don't want anything to ever ruin our friendship." Knowing that nothing else needed to be said, the two embraced and just held each other until it was time for them to leave the station.

Oliver thought about his last encounter with Audrey the whole way home. It was not exactly the words he wanted to hear from her, but it was better than nothing, and at least they were friends again. Besides, he had the whole summer to get over her as anything but a friend.

Audrey looked out the window as they drove back to the Burrow. She was glad that she had apologized. Everything felt right. Well, almost.