Wizarding World one-shots

Meeting on the Pitch (Glasswood)

There wasn't supposed to be anyone out on the Pitch this late at night. It was nearly eleven and completely dark, aside from the stars shimmering in the sky.

So when Radiant heard a voice coming from seemingly nowhere, she jumped.

"Y'ken, first years aren't supposed to play Quidditch."

Standing in front of the locker rooms was a boy holding a broom she recognized as a Cleansweep Seven. She recognized it because it was the exact one she had back home.

Her eyes went from the broom to the boy's face, and she seriously contemplated just running and grabbing it.

"I wouldn't try that, lass."

How he was able to tell what she was thinking, she had no idea.

Radiant finally spoke for the first time, her voice wavering slightly.

"I-I wasn't going to do anything."

"Do you think I'm gommy?" he asked.

"Can you speak English?" she snapped.

She wasn't expecting the laugh that came from his mouth. Normally when she got "mouthy" as her mum had put it, people tended to yell at her. Or leave.

He leaned down on his broom, smirking.

"Care to tell me why a wee First Year like yourself is out here after curfew?"

Radiant looked down at her feet, suddenly realizing how absurd this whole scenario looked to an outsider. Heck, it looked strange to her as well.

"It's my twelfth birthday," she said after a second. "I... I just want to fly."

She looked back up at him, trying to gauge what his reaction would be. Would he think she was stupid, like her brothers did?

His face remained neutral, though there was a small spark in his brown eyes.

"Well, I don't think I can let you go on a broom—"

Radiant's face fell.

"—alone." He held out his gloved hand, grinning. "Come on."

A small smile slowly crept back onto her face. With almost no hesitation, she grabbed his hand with her own. In one movement, the boy mounted his broom and pulled her on behind him.

"Hold on tight."

As soon as Radiant's arms went around his waist he kicked off the ground and launched them both into the air. A laugh escaped from her lips as they went higher and higher above the green Quidditch Pitch.

The chilly, fresh air felt wonderful against her skin. There was just something about the air when she was flying. It was always magical.

The boy flew around the hoops with ease, as if he had done it many times before. It suddenly clicked as to who it was for Radiant.

"You're... Oliver Wood?"

"Aye, I am." They flew in through the center hoop. "And I still don't ken your name, lass."

Radiant giggled as they flew upside down.

"Well," she said after they righted themselves. "If I don't tell you who I am, you can't say you saw me."

"That's not at all how it works."

"Oh, sure it is."

Oliver chuckled and urged the broom to go faster. Radiant's hair flew behind her like a red flag in the wind.

She didn't know how long they were in the air for, and she didn't care. All that mattered was the feeling of freedom that flying on a broom brought.

After some time, Oliver guided the broom down to the ground and dismounted. He held out his hand to Radiant, helping her get off as well.

"I got a feeling you know how to get back inside?" he asked.

"I do." Radiant raised an eyebrow. "And since when did you know how to speak English?"

Oliver smirked. "I guess there's a lot you don't ken about me, lass."

"And there it is again."

She started to make her way out of the Pitch with a small grin on her face. It wasn't until she nearly made her way out that he spoke again.

"I still don't know your name."

Radiant turned around.

"Guess you'll have to figure it out." She brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "See you around Wood."

She made her way back to the school the same way she made it out. Alone and cloaked in the darkness.

But she was walking away knowing she had just made a friend.