I walked into charms class, only to see NEW SEATING ARRANGEMENTS written in bold letters on the chalkboard. I crossed my fingers hoping he seats me next to June, but upon taking a quick glance at the seating chart, my prayers remained unanswered. I spotted my name in the back of the class, and next to it was a name that made my blood boil. Oliver Wood.

"Professor Flitwick?" I looked up at the small man sitting next to the desk.

"Yes, dear?" He looked up, his friendly eyes glimmering from behind his round spectacles.

"Could I possibly sit somewhere else?" I asked.

"What for?" He looked at me quizzically.

"Well, I don't really like my table partner..." I said in a small voice.

"Well, you better start trying." Flitwick chuckled, shooing me off to my seat.

I begrudgingly sat down at the table, laying my head down into my arms.

I heard Oliver sit down next to me only a few minutes later.

"Hey Stone." I heard his voice. "Ready for your match on Saturday?"

"I'm not even worried." I grinned, lifting my head out of my arms. "It's Hufflepuff."

"You seem pretty cocky for a beginner," Oliver smirked, crossing his arms.

"Talking about cocky beginners, don't think I forgot how you took a bludger to your head on your first match." I cackled victoriously, watching Oliver's cheeks glow red.

"That was one time." He grumbled. "Look I wanted to propose something."

"Oh my, I never thought you would ask! Yes, you can take my hand in marriage!" I threw my hands to my mouth, in mock excitement.

"Someday my dear, but in this case, not what I was going to ask." Oliver snickered.

"Pity, I was already planning the kind of poison I would sneak into your morning tea." I shrugged, slouching back into my chair.

"I'm sure you would make an excellent widow," Oliver gave a little laugh. "But I was going to suggest we hold a joint practice."

"Is this a weird trick to spy on our strategy?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"No, I just thought winning a mock game would be a nice morale boost for my team." Oliver snickered.

"Oh, you're on Woody-kins." I snarled. "Tomorrow morning, six am sharp."

"You've got yourself a date sweetheart," Oliver said, leaning back over his paper.

~~~~

It was a cold morning, frost peppered the morning ground, making it appear as though it had just lightly snowed. Even in the changing rooms, I could make out my breath in contrast to the room.

"Alright team, play like it's the real thing, and make sure we crush them," I said, pulling on the last of my quidditch uniform.

I looked around at my teammates. They were all looking rather tired, and to be fair it was very early in the morning.

"Stone you are going to kill us." Roger Davies, a second-year chaser who I suspected would be captain eventually, groaned, encouraging groans from the rest of the team.

"Oh come on, this is good practice for Saturday," I said. "You joined this team to work hard, not to complain."

We stepped onto the field at six o'clock sharp, to find the Gryffindor team already waiting.

"Morning Wood." I snickered, receiving laughs from both teams, watching Oliver grow red in the face.

"You think you're funny, Stone?" Oliver snarled.

"Very much so." I crossed my arms. "Might I even say, hilarious?"

"Mount your brooms!" Oliver shouted, mounting his own with quick and graceful agility that he possessed, making it understandable as to why he was chosen, captain.

I did the same, adjusting my gloves to sit tightly on my wrists, adding the extra grip needed. My Nimbus 2000 was rather slick, and while it looked amazing and provided great wind resistance, it forced me to wear very rough gloves.

"Everyone up!" I shouted and watched both teams lift off into the air, as I stayed behind, releasing the snitch, and bludgers, throwing the quaffle up.

I too rose into the air only seconds after everyone, and so the game began. I almost immediately seized the quaffle from Angelina Johnson and started speeding at the top middle hoop where Oliver was already in a ready position. I heard a bludger whizzing furiously behind me, and sped up as to avoid it. I was now only a few meters from the hoop.

"Tough luck Wood!" I yelled, swiftly turning to the side, sending the bludger flying towards Oliver, and scoring on the left hoop.

Oliver barely dodged the bludger, and stabilized himself on the broom, cursing under his breath.

The next round Katie Bell managed to get ahold of the quaffle, right as I was about to snatch it, sending me flying past her, our brooms grazing each other, causing me to lose balance. I saw Davies out of the corner of my eye, chasing after Bell, and a bludger following hot on his trail.

"Clive get the bludger!" I shouted to the beater closest to us, who was already chasing the rogue bludger at full speed.

I searched as to where Anna Shirley, the 7th year seeker, was at. I spotted her flying loops around the stadium, above the main game, narrowly missing bludgers the enemy hit toward her. She didn't show any signs of spotting the snitch, and neither did Harry Potter. I sped after Davies and Bell, keeping open in case the quaffle fell into my teams' hands.

I saw a Gryffindor chaser opening up for a pass, and hurled myself in their direction to try and block Bell's inevitable pass to her. My attempt was successful, and I caught the quaffle, only barely holding onto it. We were now only a few meters away from the main goal post, and I sighed a breath of relief knowing I just prevented a score. I didn't linger long on the thought, however, and instantly threw the quaffle to Randolph Burrow, speeding up ahead towards where Wood was flying.

Turning my head, I could spot the quaffle whirling between Roger and Burrow. I whipped my head back around, and I was able to see Oliver's face contorted with concentration as I sped towards him.

I looked back to Davies, who now had the quaffle, and was flying towards me, Spinnet and Johnson close on his trail.

"I'm open!" I yelled, and he nodded.

Without hesitation, he threw the quaffle at me, right as Angelina was about to overtake him. I caught the quaffle, it firmly landing in my hands, and floored it towards Oliver, throwing a fastball at the right hoop.

THWACK

Wood blocked the quaffle with his right, sending it down to the field. Thankfully Randolph dove after it, catching it midair, continuing the game. Katie Bell was hot on his tail, bumping against him. His grip slipped only for a second, but it was enough to allow her to snatch it from him.

"Tough luck Stone." I heard Wood snicker behind me.

I huffed and started speeding after Burrow and Bell.

I could see Harry and Shirley's red and blue chasing after something, unsure whether it was a snitch or a false tip-off. Harry had a nimbus 2000 like me, and he definitely had higher control over his movements compared to Anna, but even then she proved herself exceptionally skilled on her old Cleansweep, keeping up with his pace.

I looked back at Burrow and Bell who were now only a few paces ahead of me. Katie was trying her hardest to go as fast as possible, and with that was too tense and not as agile. I saw a bludger flying towards her and Burrow, and took the opportunity in stride.

"Randolph go down!" I yelled and watched the boy dive Katie. I could see one of the Weasley twins chase after the bludger, but even then it managed to hit Bell in her side, causing her to drop the quaffle right into Burrows's hands.

"You good Bell?" I asked, flying over to her.

"Yeah, I'm good." She heaved, stabilizing herself.

"Good." I grinned and sped after Burrow, who was again passing the quaffle with Davies.

I trailed my eyes along with the field scanning for the seekers. They were no longer chasing anything, and again were circling above us.

I looked ahead, fixing my eyes on Roger and Randolph, which were now playing a game of monkey in the middle with Johnson and Spinnet.

I stayed behind them, watching Oliver closely. He was in ready position and managed to catch the quaffle despite Roger throwing an expert curveball.

This back and forth went on for some time, having us a nearly constant tie, until finally, I heard a shriek of eureka from Shirley.

She had caught the snitch, ending our game.

260-60

I landed next to Wood.

"So how was," I made some air quotes," winning against us?"

"That was pure luck." Oliver huffed, but I couldn't help but notice a small smile playing on his lips.

"Whatever you say, Woody." I smiled, batting my eyelashes at him.

"All this proved is that you might beat Hufflepuff tomorrow," Oliver said, casually taking off his gloves, revealing a bleeding and broken looking finger.

"Oh my god, are you ok?" I gasped at the sight.

"What?" Oliver looked confused and looked down at his hand. "Oh, this?" He stuck up his broken index finger, "I get these all the time, I think you gave it to me on your second attempt to score against me."

"I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey," I said, slightly concerned about how little Oliver cared about his newly broken finger.

"If you insist." He smirked, as I grabbed his sleeve and began dragging him off the field.

"Don't make me break more of your fingers." I snarled at him.

We got to Madam Pomfrey only 20 minutes before breakfast.

"You again Mr.Wood?" She asked, rushing over to us.

"Broke me finger again." He shrugged, demonstrating his now bruised and bloodied finger, crooked to the side in a very uncomfortable position.

"This happens almost every week, I'm surprised you haven't lost all your fingers yet!" Madam Pomfrey threw her hands up. "Alright come here."

I watched as she worked away at his finger with some sanitization and charms. During this Oliver didn't look down at his hand, but instead made eye contact with me. I couldn't help but feel a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, that I chalked up to discomfort with the annoying boy.

"All patched up!" Madam Pomfrey finally pulled away from his finger, clapping her hands together.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Oliver nodded, standing up and walking over to where I was standing.

"What can I do to repay you for ensuring my safety Princess?" He cooed, making me blush.

"To let me high-five you with a curling iron." I smiled sweetly, "Now if you excuse me I'm going to go change."