Serendipity: An Oliver Wood Fanfiction

Chapter 2

"The NEWT's are fast approaching, if I don't pay attention, i'm failing." Willow scolded Alhena, who insisted on talking about the upcoming Quidditch game at every moment she was able to. "Fine." Alhena sighed at her friends dullness. 

"But I'm just saying, with that Cedric Diggory as the new Hufflepuff captain, we may actually need to work a little harder-"

"Alhena." Willow interrupted her friend, her tone serious. "I. Will. Not. Fail. Potions. Understand?" She raised her eyebrows, and Alhena sunk back into her chair. "Okay, okay." Alhena agreed, leaning over to check where they were up to in the textbook. 

Since Alhena's save during her last Quidditch match against Gryffindor, she had been expected to perform just as excellently. Everyone seemed to think she had some secret weapon or expert move up her sleeve that would win her the next game. Hufflepuff were easy prey, but with their new captain, she had to take precautions. 

If Alhena didn't deliver what the school expected from her, she'd lose her reputation. She needed do something in the next game that would wow the crowd just the same as when she leapt off her broom one month prior, and so she decided to consult an old book she had brought at the beginning of her schooling life. Quidditch through the ages. 

Alhena slipped the book from her bag, placing it half under her potions textbook so she could read without Professor Snape getting suspicious. "So here's what I'm thinking." Alhena began, when a figure suddenly appeared at the front of her desk.

"Miss Black, this is the third time this week you've had this book out without my permission, if I catch you one more time reading anything but your potions textbook, i'll give you a Saturday detention with Mr Wood." Snape drawled.

"Professor, I haven't done anything?" Oliver frowned from across the classroom, overhearing their conversation. "You've spoken out of turn just now, Saturday detention." The potions Professor snapped at Oliver. 

Alhena snickered with the rest of the Slytherins as Oliver Wood stood dumbfounded at Professor Snape. Although Alhena didn't particularly enjoy the idea of a Saturday detention with her least favourite person in the world, the idea of Oliver getting in trouble simply because Snape knew Alhena didn't like him, and wouldn't enjoy a detention with him, was wonderful. 

When Professor Snape reached the front of the classroom, Alhena subtly flipped the book open. "As I was saying." She whispered to Willow, who groaned at her friends persistence. "I was thinking of doing the sloth grip roll, or the starfish and stick." She pointed at two pictures on the book, showing different moves that required precision and boldness.

"Miss Black." Snape appeared in front of the Slytherin girl again, causing her to jump. "Saturday detention with Mr Wood, it is." He frowned unpleasantly. "Professor-" Alhena started, but he had already flipped his cloak around and made his way back to his station at the front of the class. 

Alhena groaned in defeat, locking eyes with Oliver, who looked both amused and disappointed. "I didn't think he'd actually do it." Alhena defended when Willow began to lecture her. "I'm going to be late to Quidditch practise." She groaned. 

----

Alhena and Willow sat in the Great Hall one Friday night, eating dinner as they normally would, when a flurry of owls entered into the room, dropping mail and packages to majority of the students. Alhena rarely received any mail, so she was surprised when an envelope was dropped in front of her. 

Alhena stared at the envelope in disappointed, it was upside down, so she couldn't see the seal, but she knew who it was from. "Oh oh." Willow frowned, sharing in her friends bitterness. "Do I even want to read it." Alhena picked up one of the corners of the envelope, flipping it over as if it were infectious.