Everything- Oliver Wood

𝟙𝟞. 𝕃𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕎𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟

------

After laying in bed and feeling sorry for myself for about 30 minutes, I get up and start looking through my trunk. 

Finally, after a while of digging, I find what I'm looking for. It's a book. A book my mother always used to read to me as a child when I was sad. 

The familiar red cover is smooth and cool. I run my fingers over the gold lettering in the middle, spelling out "Little Women by L.M. Alcott". 

I haven't touched this book in a good three years, but, for some reason, I open it up and start to read. 

Something about Little Women brings a kind of comfort that I haven't felt in a while. 

I finish the first chapter and lay in bed.

As I go to sleep, I'm glad that I opened up the old book from my childhood.

---

I let myself enjoy the next week, feeling happier than I ever did while dating Russell. 

I thought I'd be sadder than this, but, honestly, I'm so relieved to be rid of him. 

Of course, Russell still mopes around the castle, but he doesn't talk to anybody anymore. Dougal beat him up pretty well. I don't think he's going to come back to Hogwarts next year. 

Meanwhile, I avidly read Little Women. I can't believe how long it's been since I last read it; there are so many things that I never appreciated about it. 

I'm actually named after a boy from the book (Theodoore "Laurie" Lawrence); my mum grew up on the story, too. 

The day before we take the train home, I sit in the library, reading. 

Naturally, nobody's here; our O.W.L.s are over and most of the students are getting anxious to be done with schoolwork for the holidays.

However, I've taken a liking to reading. The library is so quiet. A great place to avoid people. 

I'm just reading about Meg March's wedding when I'm interrupted. 

"Hi Laurie-" a boy sits down across from me. 

"Oliver?" I look up. "Finally worked up the guts to look me in the eyes after we beat you?" I joke. 

He rolls his eyes. "Your friends said you'd be here." 

"Yep." 

"What're you reading?" 

"It's a muggle book. Little Women." 

"Oh." He gulps. "Listen- Percy really wants me to ask you to ask Penelope for her address so he can send letters." 

"Couldn't you just ask her?" I laugh. 

"Well, yeah, but I was sort of hoping that we could maybe write to each other as well," He says. "You know- as friends." 

I pretend to think about it for a moment, "Well, I'd only write to you as enemies." 

"Oh, shove off, Laurie, I'm not that bad." 

"Well, yeah, but, don't you think its cooler that way? Parker and Wood: enemies for life," I grin. 

"It does sound pretty wicked," he nods. 

"You got a piece of paper?" I ask. 

"What?" 

"So I can give you my mailing address, dimwit," I laugh. 

"Oh-" he pulls a piece of parchment out of his pocket. I grab a quill and scribble down my address. "Thanks."