Edge of Reality // Oliver Wood

✧˖* 2 *˖✧

My teammates and I cheer as Cedric Diggory is lifted into the air. I can't believe it! We won! We're all dancing, moving our bodies to the tune of students chanting our Seeker's name when the opposing team approaches us.

"I got to give it to you all, you played well today," Gryffindor Team Captain Oliver Wood stretches out his hand to Zacharias Smith who quickly shakes it.

There is this unwritten rule in Quidditch for the Team Captain of the losing team to congratulate the winner as a form of respect. No matter how rough the match was. However, this often results in some sarcastic passive-aggressive behaviour.

"Thanks, Wood. Though you didn't exactly make it easy for us," Smith replies, his face showing a dirty grin.

Wood makes his way around the team and shakes everyone's hand. He reaches Cedric Diggory, the person responsible for Gryffindor's downfall, and gulps down his frustration for having to shake the tall boy's hand. He almost suffers a mental breakdown when the hand he's trying to shake is still holding on tightly to the Snitch.

"Whoops. Sorry about that," Cedric laughs, visibly enjoying Wood's irritation, and offers him his left palm instead.

He eventually reaches me. His face is bright red but he tries to hide his anger with a forced smile. It seems like he isn't taking this defeat too well.

"Good game, Griffin," He says through gritted teeth.

"Sorry for your loss, Wood."

My response takes him aback. He tilts his head and stares at me narrowed-eyed in disbelief. At first, he looks angry, and I worry I offended him with my little joke. I thought he had thicker skin, that Oliver Wood. But quickly after, he exhales sharply out of his nose and gives me a playful smirk. He stretches out his hand and I place my palm in his, but we don't shake. For a second, we just stand there, our eyes both studying our intertwined hands. I don't know why but the touch of his skin sends tingles through my entire body and makes my heart beat erratically in my chest. I get jerked out of my trance when Wood clears his throat and I notice the rest of the players giving us weird looks for taking so long. We both let go of each other immediately and Wood moves on to congratulate the rest of the Hufflepuff team.

"That was...interesting," Hannah whispers in my ear.

"Shut up."

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

"Very best of evenings to you all," Dumbledore's calm but impactful voice quiets the entire Great Hall, "After the incredible success of the Yule Ball a few years ago, Hogwarts has decided to host a New Year's Eve Dance!"

Thrilled gasps erupt from the, mostly female, students and fill up the room, while the male students let out a rather displeased grunt at the thought of having to dance again. I look over at my friends who seem incredibly excited about Dumbledore's announcement. It would be nice to have another dance at Hogwarts, seeing as I didn't get to actually experience the Yule Ball. I scripted that I have memories of my past years at Hogwarts. I vaguely remember going with Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff who used to be great friends with Hannah in their first few years. Maybe I could ask him to join me again.

"Silence!" Dumbledore speaks up and the students' murmuring stops, "The dance is only for fifth, sixth, and seventh-year students and, since you are all of age, there will be no need to sneak in any secret bottles or potions,"

The older students in the room laugh and cheer at the mention that alcohol will be present at the dance. Probably a good decision, Cedric Diggory would have given everyone drinks anyway.