The Education of Oliver Wood

To Make Merry

Emmie glanced around the large, slightly ostentatious flat, taking in the various players and their dates and friends. It was astonishing how they all fit in despite the size. She had yet to see Oliver and counted that as a blessing - there were so many people there, she was beginning to think that there was no way the two would even see each other. Sipping her drink, she turned back to pay attention to Fincher and whatever story he was currently telling the rest of the team gathered around them. Kara was at her side, though Melanie had already wandered off, likely flirting with someone.

Perhaps this wouldn't be a disaster. Perhaps she wouldn't lose it the moment she saw her ex-boyfriend for the first time in three months - if that even happened. Perhaps she would actually enjoy herself. She smiled slightly, settling on the last thought. There was no reason for her not to have fun tonight. She wasn't the one who broke off the three-year relationship.

"Ah, Pucey! You made it!" Beauchamp shouted. "And you brought Flint."

Emmie whipped her head over, her eyebrows rising as she saw Adrian walking up, Marcus Flint just behind him. He looked different from the boy she knew in school - a bit taller and filled out. His dark hair was still short and his dark eyes darted around the group as though he was nervous, which was something completely new. She couldn't help but notice that sometime in the passing years, he had managed to fix his teeth and had lost the slightly trollish look that had always been intimidating before.

This Marcus Flint didn't seem nearly that intimidating, though he still loomed over her. He also looked more handsome, though that was not something she was about to admit out loud to anyone, even Kara. A flush came over Emmie's cheeks as she remembered some of their more heated run-ins at school. She couldn't help as she pulled her cup closer to her, almost as though she expected him to slip something into it. Even if it had been Warrington.

Quickly, Emmie thought over everything she knew about him now. He was on the Falcons, playing chaser. She had even played a few matches against him when he was on reserves a year before getting promoted. But outside that, their paths had barely crossed since Hogwarts. Even their seventh year, he had actively avoided her.

Flint glanced at her and then looked at the other Arrows.

"Good to see you," he directed towards Beauchamp.

Emmie met Kara's eyes, who seemed just as surprised to see him standing there. She apparently remembered the arrogant Slytherin all too well, though he seemed quieter than before. His usual sneer gone.

"You need drinks," Beauchamp said before walking off. Fincher frowned slightly as he looked at Flint.

"Right... you all remember Flint," Pucey said, motioning towards him.

"Yea," Fincher retorted, still frowning. Adrian looked slightly surprised at the frosty reaction.

"Okay..." Adrian said. "And you remember Fincher and MacKenzie... Watkins..."

Flint nodded, though he seemed as though he were avoiding looking at Emmie and took a half-step away from her. Her eyes went wide at the movement. While her own memories of Flint were still on the negative side, she never thought that he might be afraid of her.

"Just, promise to give me a heads up if you plan to jinx me again, MacKenzie," he said, a half-smile on his face as he finally looked over at her fully.

Emmie's mouth dropped open as Fincher froze and Kara snorted. Was this actually Flint? Making a joke?

Was she now standing in some alternate universe?

"Wait, is this the bloke you mentioned before?" Taylor asked, smiling. "The one you sent to the hospital wing?"

"For a couple days," Flint said as Emmie still hadn't regained the ability to speak. "Granted I deserved it. She got me fairly good another time before that, though my mate was able to reverse it without Pomfrey's help."