Ch. 15

Percy was being a huge butthead.

"You are being a huge butthead!" I shouted at my new enemy.

"Oh, grow up Emma. Aren't you a little old to be calling me names?"

"I want to punch you in the face right now. You're lucky I'm just calling you names." I let him know.

So what were we fighting about? That big-headed, know-it-all, son-of-a-pink umbrella broke up with Penelope.

"Look, when it comes down to it, it's my decision. No matter how upset she is, or you upset you are, I can't let the relationship continue. It wouldn't be fair to any of us."

He was right. But I refused to admit it.

"But you still love her! I know you do. And she still loves you. None of this is making sense, Percy!"

"School is ending, Emma dear, we're all moving out. Things will be different from now on. I need to concentrate on my career right now. I don't have time for a girlfriend."

"That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard."

"I'm not going to apologize to you Emma. Like I said, it's my decision, and it's the right decision. It wouldn't be fair to her because I wouldn't be able to focus on her. She deserves someone who can be her everything, and I can't do that. Look, this isn't easy for me either, ok? I love Penny and I always will, but in essence, I'm doing this for her. "

I was silent for a moment.

"Are you going to drop me so easily too?" I asked quietly. Okay, the truth was, I was sad that he was breaking up with her, but I was more scared he was going to forget about me.

"Emma Natalie Dobbs, come on now. I'm not dropping anybody. I'll always be your friend, do you hear me?" he pulled me into a hug. I was shocked. He had never hugged me before. He held on tightly for a few moments and then pulled back. I was startled to find tears in his eyes.

"This really is hard for you, isn't it?" I asked.

He blinked a few times.

"Oh, look at me, will you? I'm never mushy. I guess everything has just hit me at once. It's all over, isn't it. Our time at Hogwarts is over. God."

I hadn't really thought about it. But he was right, our time was over. Things were going to be different.

"I made up my mind last night," he continued, composing himself. "I really want to be Minister of Magic one day. It's been my goal for the longest time. It's my dream. And unfortunally, I'm going to have to look out for number one if I want to achieve that dream. Nothing is going to get in my way. And if I have to end a few relationships to get there, then that's just what I'm going to have to do. I don't want to lose you as a friend, but you have to realize I'm not going to be around much anymore. Do you understand?"

Gone was the sentimental Percy. A steel-faced young man had replaced him.

"Yeah, I understand."

And I did. More than he knew. I understood in that instance that we would never be close friends again. Acquaintances, yes, the kind of friends that remember their time together fondly, but only acknowledge one another with a smile when they meet again. But deep in my heart I also understood that if I ever really needed him, he'd be there for me. And that was enough.

"I love you Percy, you know that, right?"

"Yes, I do. And I love you too." He said before shaking my hand and walking away.

"Good-bye." I whispered just before he whipped around the corner.

God, where did the time go? It seemed just like yesterday we were starting our first day at Hogwarts. And now here we were, getting ready to graduate. Just two more days and we would be leaving forever. I suddenly needed to talk to Oliver.

I found him in his room cradling the Quidditch Cup like a first-time mother holds a newborn infant.

"For Merlin's sake Oliver… it's been three weeks, they can't exactly take it back."

He looked up at me with puppy dog eyes.

"I just like holding it." He whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.

I let out a few cuss words, wondering where all the masculinity in Hogwarts had gone.

"Get a hold of yourself boy." I said, yanking the beloved trophy out of his hands and placing it back on his desk.

"Careful!" he yelled, leaping up from the bed and straightening his prize. He then proceeded to take out a chamois cloth and wiped the entire thing down.

"Seriously Wood, you have a problem."

"It's my baby, Em. I can't just let it stay dirty. It's gotta GLEAM!" he threw his head back and laughed.

He looked like a homicidal maniac.

So I did what I had to do. I licked the son-of-a-bitch trophy.

And then I ran.

"You…Bitch!" he screamed, and started to chase after me.

I yelped and dove over Percy's bed. Well, I stumbled over it… ok, I flat out attacked the bed trying to escape my boyfriend's clutches.

Mission: Failed.

As I frantically tried to escape the blankets that I got tangled in, Oliver jumped in to save me. Or kill me. I couldn't tell.

Next thing I knew I was pinned to the bed by my adorable boyfriend. But I wasn't exactly complaining.

"Apologize." He grumbled.

"No way."

"Apologize." He said again, giving me the death glare.

"NEVER!"

"Fine, I shall make you then!"

"Empty threat." I challenged.

But, alas, it wasn't empty. He bent down and breathed hot air against the nape of my neck. And while that sounds innocent enough, that was my weak spot. For some odd reason, much to the delight of my boyfriend, that simple spot is very sensitive. When someone breathes on it, the muscles in my back tense up and it tickles like hell.

"Stop…IT!" I screamed through my laughter.

"Apologize to the Quidditch Trophy God!"

"No way!"

"Please?" he asked.

I had to give in. Damn those puppy-dog eyes.

"Fine." I said, sticking my tongue out.

"Oh, Quidditch Trophy God! Forgiveth thee for thine error and holy abomination of licking thy beloved Quidditch Cup Trophy! Make thine spit disappear from thine said Cup. May it gleam in your Name forever and ever. Amen."

"That was…so beautiful." Ollie teased, pretending to wipe away a tear.

"Bastard." I smiled before letting him kiss me.

For the record…we had gotten over that awkward stage long ago.

We were about five minutes into a make-out session when Percy walked in.

"Get the fuck off my bed!" he screeched.

I don't care how mad he is when he says it, hearing the f word come out of Percy's mouth is funny.

Oliver and I giggled like little school girls as we sheepishly climbed off of Percy's bed and into Oliver's.

We watched as Percy walked over to his desk, threw open a drawer, violently pulled something out of it, and then slammed it shut. As he stomped out I swear I heard "God-damned teenagers" come out of his mouth.

Once the door was firmly whacked into place, Oliver turned to me.

"He said good-bye to me today."

"Yeah, he said good-bye to me too."

"What's going to happen to us, Emma?"

"I dunno, Ollie. What do you want to do?"

He just stared at me for the longest time. When he finally spoke, I got chills down my spine.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He said in a tone so serious I knew he wasn't playing around.

It was the first time either of us had mentioned our future together. But I knew that I wanted the same.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you." I told him and I could see relief in his eyes. Like I was really going to tell him anything different. What a moron.

"I love you Oliver Wood."

"I love you Emma Dobbs."

And we lived happily ever after.

Like I said, Oliver Wood was fascinating from the moment I met him. And I know it was a sappy crappy happy ending. But sometimes life is like that. All I know is that when I gave without an expectation of a return, I got one anyway. Tenfold. Sometimes you just have to go through the bad stuff so the good stuff will seem all the more sweeter. But enough of the philosophy bullshit. I've said my peace. All I can do now is sit back and enjoy every day with my beloved husband and our new son, Michael. Peace and love my good people. I hope one day we meet again. 