Meetings and Letters

Two

A Letter And A Day Off

Dear Oliver, wrote Hermione.

How's training coming? Be sure to stretch before practice, otherwise your muscles will cramp. Believe me, it's happened to Ron a million times. He never listens to me! Ugh. Men. Excepting you, of course, Ol, dear. You're perfect! I've been meaning to ask you: What shampoo do you use? You've got this lovely, curly, manageable hair, and I want it! So, what shampoo do you use? And if you say it's the same as Professor Snape, I shan't believe you! I went on my lunch break the other day, and got a sundae. It made me think of you telling me that if I ate that much chocolate, I'd pass out. Good times, good times. When are you going to be in London next? I'm free until Christmas, as I'm visiting my parents and the Weasleys. Though, I might get lost in the Burrow so don't be suprised if you don't hear from me for a few weeks after Christmas. I'm at work right now, and I've got to get back to translating some Bulgarian ancient runes. Stupid things are bloody unintelligible. When you write back, send your letter with Mynos. She'll stay with you until then. Ta!

Yours,

Hermione

Oliver smiled to himself as he folded the parchment. Stroking the owl that sat on his bedstead, he got up from his bed, where he had been laying, and got dressed.

He had received Hermione's letter in the shower. So, when he read it, he was wearing a bathrobe that was open at the neck, and had Hermione seen him she would have scolded him about getting a cold.

Nevertheless, he was very pleased to get Hermione's letter. At the moment, he was in northern England, training at a height like the Ethiopian Quidditch team--they were so used to low oxygen levels, that when they had to go very far up to catch the Snitch, they didn't pass out due to lack of oxygen.

He had just finished a very hard training session with his new team. Although there were a lot of people he didn't know, there were some familiar faces: Katie Bell, his old Chaser and one-time girlfriend was a reserve for the team, and was training with them up in the mountains, just in case.

Also, Cho Chang was working in the administration for the team, not having been accepted as even their third-string Seeker. But, he tried to avoid her, on account of something Hermione had mentioned in an earlier letter.

Walking over to the dresser, he picked his wand up and cast a warming spell. He sighed, the feeling of a nicely warmed blanket being wrapped around him, returning after his original charm had worn off. Now warmed, he pulled out some clothes, choosing a pair of jeans and a Gryffindor-colors sweater to wear that day.

Stretching, he yawned and heard the bones in his spine cracking. He laughed, and left the small apartment that the team had provided, intent on walking down to local supermarket to buy something to make for lunch, since it wasn't very far off, and breakfast and dinner you ate with the team.

He went into the Marks & Spencer and blinked at all the Muggle things. Luckily, Hermione had realized that he would have to go to a supermarket, so she told him what to do when in one in a letter. So, he picked out a bacon sandwich on rye. It had a lot of mayonnaise, but he didn't mind as long as it was food. He didn't like the look of the drinks, so he bought the sandwich and went to another grocery store, Europa.

He glanced at the signs that showed where the things were, and wished Hermione were there. Inspiration struck him, and he rushed out of the store and to the Wizard building his apartment was in.

He strode past the frazzled desk clerk, and into the bark room where the fireplace and the floo powder were.

Throwing a handful in, he said loudly, "Hermione Granger's office," and stepped into the fireplace.

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Hermione was sitting at her desk alphabetizing files in a drawer because she was bored, when a whooshing sound came from her fireplace.

Looking up, she saw Oliver Wood dusting himself off.

"Oliver!" she said, suprised. "What are you doing here?"

He grinned, and grabbed her arm. "Here. Come with me." Pulling her over to the fireplace, he grabbed another handful of floo powder and said, "Building 341, The Grand, Carlisle," and pulled into the fireplace after him.

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They popped back into Oliver's hotel a few seconds later.

"Oliver, where am I?" asked Hermione, dusting her clothes off.

He smiled. "We're at my apartment building in Carlisle. It's in northern England, where I'm training. And now, you're going to help me grocery shop. I only have to have food for lunch, since the team provides breakfast--if you can call it that--and dinner."

"Ah," said Hermione, letting Oliver pull her out of the apartment building by a very disgruntled Cho Chang. "So, have you been to Marks & Spencer?"

Oliver wrinkled his nose. "Their food is fine, but I didn't like their selection of drinks."

"Hmm," said Hermione, leading him towards Europa. "Well, let's get you some water, and some soda. Do you have a ice box?"

Oliver nodded, thinking of the fridge in his room. "Yeah. I think so. But, you'll have to have a look at it."

Hermione nodded, putting some soda, water, a little thing of Ben and Jerry's in Oliver's basket. Spotting something, she gave a little peep. "Ah! And you'll want some Cadbury's, of course. Do you like crunchy, or just plain chocolate?" She glanced at Oliver, who shrugged.

"Don't really care," he said. "Never had anything but plain, I guess."

Hermione tutted her disapproval, and put a large bar of Cadbury's into the three-quarters filled basket. When she went for a box of cookies, he pulled the basket out of her reach. "I think I've got enough, thanks." And they went to the check out, where Hermione told Oliver what to do, quietly, of course.

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As they walked through the doorway of Oliver's building, they heard a sugary sweet voice coming towards them from their right.

"Oh, Oliver!" it said, sing-songily. They turned to see Cho Chang sitting in a chair with her legs crossed to their right. "Where've you been?"

Oliver rolled his eyes, exasperated, before answering. "Hello, Chang," he said, in an worn-out sort of way.

Hermione hid a snicker, turning away so that Cho didn't see her.

"You didn't answer my question, Ollie," said Cho, getting up and brushing some imaginary lint off of Oliver's shoulder, who tensed at her touch.

"Get off, Chang," he said gruffly, pushing her away. "I was out with....a friend."

A his mention of 'a friend', Cho's eyes swung to Hermione. "You mean her?" She walked around Oliver and her eyes narrowed to slits. "And who are you?" she said, a snide tone in her voice.

"She's my friend, Chang," said Oliver, a warning in his voice.

"Hermione Granger," said Hermione. "It's....well, not very nice to see you, Cho. I don't believe we've spoken since you were so horrible to Harry in fifth year."

"You!" said Cho, her eyes snapping open to become wide circles. "How do you know Oliver?"

Hermione, knowing Oliver's temper type, looped her arm through his. "Oh, you know, old friends." She smiled. "Did you hear, by the way? Harry's engaged."

"No, I didn't hear," said Cho, something coming into her eyes. "To whom, by the way?"

Hermione blinked at her innocently. "My good friend, Ginny Weasley. They've been dating forever, practically."

Cho blinked. "Oh, I didn't-Excuse me," she said, hurrying away.

Oliver turned to Hermione, astounded. "How did you do that? She's been trying to, well," he blushed, "you know, ever since I got here."

Hermione shrugged as they walked to the lift. "I just knew what would get to her. She never really got over Harry, you know. He says she still owls him every once in a while. Tries to get him to go out with her. Pathetic, really. Now, what floor are you on?"

Oliver pressed the button, and they were silent for the ride. The lift doors opened, and they walked to a nondescript door, whereupon Oliver put his bags down and pulled his keys out and opened the door.

"After you," said Hermione, picking his bags up. "No, really go ahead."

He went ahead, and was glad he did, because he had a chance to kick some dirty clothes under the bed before Hermione saw them.

"So, where's your refrigerator?" asked Hermione, smiling amusedly, knowing fully what the frantic leg movements were for. "Because we should really put these groceries away before they go bad."

"Oh, of course," replied Oliver, taking the bags from her and placing them beside a medium sized fridge in one corner of his small apartment. He opened the door of the ice box, and placed the items from his bags into it.

Hermione, who was standing next to his bed, laughed. So neat and clean, he was!

"Oi! Oliver, coach says it's time for....Blimey! You've a guest!" said a voice coming from the door.

Oliver looked over. "Oh, hello Gerald. yeah, I've a guest. Had to floo Hermione in because I couldn't figure out some Muggle things."

Gerald was still staring at Hermione. "You're Hermione Granger!" he exclaimed. "Harry Potter's friend! You and Ron Weasley saved the world!"

Hermione blushed. "Not really. It was all Harry, really." She smiled at Oliver. "Clearly you've got somewhere to go, and I've got to get back to work." She gave him a small hug. "See you in a bit, Ol." She was almost at the door when she turned around. "Don't forget to write!" And left, laughing.

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"Mate, you know Hermione Granger?" said Gerald McKeogh, incredulously. "You are friends with Hermione Granger?"

Oliver and Gerald were walking through the streets, going up to the mountain where the pitch and team offices were.

"It's not a big deal," said Oliver, raking his hands through his luxurious curly auburn hair. "I knew her, Harry, and Ron in school. I was Harry's captain in Quidditch until his third year, when I graduated. Met up again at the Quidditch World Cup, then nothing for years. A month and a half ago, we met in Diagon Alley, and have been writing each other ever since."

"And," continued Gerald, as if Oliver hadn't said a word, "you've got a crush on Hermione Granger!"

"I do not!" said Oliver crossly. "And you'd better keep your mouth shut in front of the team!"

"Oliver and Hermione sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, and then comes baby in a baby carriage!" sang Gerald.

"Shut up, Gerald!" said Oliver, even crosser. "I do not!"

"You don't what?" asked June Weatherby, a Chaser.

"Nothing," said Oliver, clapping his hand over Gerald's mouth. "Nothing at all, right Gerald?" He glared at Gerald, slowly removing his hand.

"Right," said Gerald, backing away from Oliver. "Don't be so sensitive, mate. I get it, you're only friends with 'er."

"With who?" asked Katie Bell, old friend of Oliver, and now a Chaser for England. She glanced at Oliver. "Does the little Ollie bear have a crushy-poo?" She giggled, and grinned at Oliver.

"I am only friends with her, and that is all I am going to say!" said Oliver, pushing past them and going into the office.

"Ooooh," they said, impressed and his defensiveness. Then they went in after him.

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Inside the office was where the team ate and hung out, a common room, so to speak. The team was comprised of Oliver, who was Keeper; Katie Bell, June Weatherby, Gerald McKeogh, who were Chasers; Eddie and Ian Alister, who were Beaters; and Simon Hartfield, who was Seeker.

After a month of training together, they were all in an easy friendship. However, sometimes they would conspire to get one of the members to tell something they didn't want to tell. So, they played Truth or Dare.

"Oliver," said Simon, struggling not to smirk, "Truth or Dare?"

Oliver sighed. He hated Quidditch Dares. So he always picked Truth. "Truth, Si."

Simon grinned evilly. "All right, then. Who is the most famous person you know who you're good friends with?"

Oliver thought for a moment. "That'd be a toss up."

"Between who, Ollie?" they whined.

Oliver grinned. "Fine, I'll tell you. Between Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and the Weasley twins of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes." He frowned at them. "And don't call me Ollie!" he said as an afterthought.

"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Fred and George Weasley?" said Simon, in shock.

"Oh, is that what this is about?" said Katie, nonchalantly. "Well, then, I know all of them, too. Plus this," she held her left hand out and there was a lovely diamond ring on her ring finger. "George and I are getting married in six months," she pronounced, a happy expression on her face.

"Yeah, Kat, Gerald has some harebrained idea that I've a crush on 'Mione," said Oliver. He glared at Gerald. "Which I don't, of course!"

"What," said Katie, atsounded, "she and Ron aren't together?"

Oliver shook his head. "Nope. Apparently, they dated in their seventh year, and that cured them of their oh-so-obvious puppy love." He laughed, remembering something. "You remember when he thought her cat killed his rat?"

Katie laughed, doubling over. "How could I forget?" she said. "There was pandemonium in the common room for weeks! He was so stubborn!"

"I know!" said Oliver, laughing some more. "Ah, good times, good times." He looked at his watch. "Well, would you look at that? It's time for dinner!" And he hurried out of the room and towards the dining hall.