The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

Finally

Emmie couldn't help but smile as she walked with Kara, Melanie and Toni across the castle grounds towards the quidditch pitch. It was a brilliant April afternoon - the sun was out and there was a warm breeze. While it was still too chilly for shorts, she was dressed in a light jacket and denims.

It had Emmie in a good mood. Spring was finally settling in, it seemed.

"Perfect quidditch weather," she said with a happy sigh, eager to see the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match as she twirled a Gryffindor flag between her fingers.

"Sure that sigh is about the weather or perhaps it's about a certain keeper," Melanie said, her blue eyes dancing.

"Shut it," Emmie said, her cheeks turning slightly pink as she glanced to the quidditch team just ahead of them.

Thankfully, they hadn't heard anything, too busy goofing off as they shoved each other around, or speculated on the match.

"How are things with Mr. Wood?" Toni said, grinning at her. "Noticed you've been spending more time together."

"They're absolutely fine," Emmie retorted, still glancing towards the quidditch team nervously.

"Dear gods, Em. They aren't going to care if you're dating him," Kara said, rolling her eyes slightly. "Probably be happy for you."

"We're no datin'," Emmie replied, though there was a note of hesitation in her voice.

"You so are," Melanie said.

"He's been helpin' me with my spell work," Emmie said. "Ye ken this... ye were helpin' me as well."

"Where?" Toni asked. "In a broom closet?"

"No... there's an empty classroom near Gryffindor Tower we've been usin'. Just ask Percy. He's there most of the time as well," Emmie said. "We're not off snoggin', if that's what ye think."

"Should be," Melanie muttered. Emmie rolled her eyes as she shook her head.

There had been a few moments when she thought he was going to say something or even perhaps kiss her, but there was always someone there to interrupt them. Once he had been about to kiss her during their lessons in the room of requirement, but then Percy had shown up unexpectedly (thankfully he hadn't noticed anything). Another time, they were walking down the hall to their lessons when he had nearly stolen a kiss, but a group of Ravenclaws had come around the corner.

It was as though Hogwarts did not want Emmie and Oliver to finally kiss for some reason.

At the same time, Oliver had been rather serious about gaining her trust again. So much so that he hadn't so much as brought up their relationship status. At first, Emmie had appreciated it, the fact that he was allowing her to progress at her own pace. But more and more, she knew that she was ready to be his girlfriend and launch an official relationship with him.

So much so, that she was fairly sure if he didn't do it soon, she'd up and do it herself.

"He'll come around," Kara said to her softly, throwing an arm around Emmie's shoulders.

"I'm no worrit about that," Emmie said, blushing slightly and causing Kara to laugh.

"Maybe you should just ask him yourself? Worked with Diggory," Kara said, glancing up at the seeker in question.

"That was different," Emmie said automatically, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink though she had been thinking the same thing.

"How so?" Kara asked, a dark eyebrow raised.

"That was... ye ken... it was... I didnae ask him to be... It was just a date..."

"Ah, look who we have here..."