Winners, Keepers (Oliver Wood)

one: the common room

November 3, 2 am

"Just be careful later, I wouldn't want to run into any sort of trouble." Meghan warned me.

After my roommates went to sleep, I waited for a few hours until I silently walked down the stairs and into the Gryffindor common room. It was two in the morning. The fire was put out and it was cold.

Ether, my white owl, would be here any moment now. I settled into the warm couch and closed my eyes to relax. It was a long day. Apart from Potions class with Professor Snape, there was a Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor.

"What are you doing, staying up so late?" A voice behind me asked.

I looked around and saw that it was Oliver Wood. Although we were housemates, I've never really gotten to know him so well, at least not as well as I know his best friends, Fred and George Weasley.

"Waiting for a letter." I replied feebly. "My owl's late."

"You do know that can wait until tomorrow, right?" He asked. I have never noticed how weird his Scottish accent was, now that it was mixed with a little British slang.

"Yeah, but might as well wait it out since I can't sleep." I answered. Truthfully, I just wanted to know what Daniel wrote back.

He had dark circles around his eyes, which meant he probably hasn't been sleeping well, either. "Did you watch the game?"

I nodded my head, looking a little confused as he took a seat beside me. "You lot were good out there."

"Apparently not good enough," he spat out, looking fiercely into the fire that had now grown bigger. "Those Slytherin scumbags think playing rough is right."

I giggled.

"What?" He asked, looking confused. "Why are you laughing?"

"You said 'Slytherin scumbags', sorry I can't not laugh at that," I smiled. "But in all seriousness, you guys still won the match."

Oliver looked at me for a moment and looked back at the fire. "I guess you're right. They shouldn't have done that to Harry, though."

I nodded my head. "Yeah, that poor boy."

He nodded. "Those Syltherins play nasty, it's only the opening game as well."

"Yeah..." I trailed along, not really knowing what else to say.

"I'm sorry," he sighed and looked at me. "I'm just venting out and being completely bitter."

I smiled. "It's fine, I completely understand. Kelvin Hoff from Slytherin once topped a higher score than I did at Potions and I was a mess."

Oliver laughed. "Kelvin Hoff probably gotten his answers off some poor Hufflepuff."

A faint tapping was heard from the windows. I immediately stood up to find Ether, holding a letter in his beak. "Thanks, Ether." I smiled graciously as he flew back to the owlery.

Dear Avery, I'm sorry. We can't
just pretend that you're not a
witch. I'm just a normal bloke, you
can't just expect me to be fine with
this. Goodbye. -Daniel

I composed myself because Oliver was right in front of me. I knew this was going to happen and my feelings for Daniel somehow disappeared after my fourth year in Hogwarts. It's been two years since, so why did it still sadden me?

"Are you alright?" Oliver asked, nearing me.

I clutched the letter and crumpled it in my hand. "Just swell."

"Hey, it's okay. I don't know what you've just read but I'm sure you'll be fine." Oliver assured me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

His hand felt warm against my cotton pyjamas.

"Thanks." I smiled embarrassingly. I, for one, knew I was beet red from head to toe.

I walked in front of the fireplace and cast a spell to kindle a fire. With no regrets, I threw Daniel's letter into it. I watched the fire slowly eating the rims of the paper as Oliver sat beside me.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked.

"Not really." I blurted out, my cheeks reddening.

Oliver laughed. "Oh, c'mon, Avery. We both sat beside each other the first day we got sorted."

He remembered that? Well, I remembered because he was one of the only first years from Scotland, and me being a British kid, I found it quite cool.

"Uh..." I trailed along. I was wary since I have only told Meghan about Daniel, which made sense because Meghan was my best friend. Oliver was just a familiar acquaintance.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "We sit beside each other in almost every class. Plus, we both share a mutual hatred for Professor Snape."

"But everyone hates Snape," I laughed. I glanced at his trusting smile and gave in. "Alright but this is confidential, I've only told Meghan about it."

Oliver put a hand on his chest. "I feel quite special right now."

"Oh, shut up," I laughed. "Okay. That was a letter from my ex-boyfriend -well, sort of. We just liked each other for a long time and never made it official because we were both scared. I guess it's just embarrassing because he's the first boy I've ever liked and well, he doesn't like me back anymore."

Oliver cocked his head to the side. "Why? You're nice, pretty, and smart."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks but I continued. "He's a Muggle, you see. Didn't think I was good enough for him. But it's fine, I kind of lost my feelings for him a long time ago. I don't know why I feel rubbish right now."

Oliver put his arm around me and looked at me in a serious manner. "Maybe it's because you're afraid to be alone. I mean, everyone feels lonely sometimes."

I remembered how alone I was in the big house while my parents went to work early in the morning and one day just never came back. I remembered how alone I was at a Muggle school because people found me weird. I remembered how my Muggle cousins stared at me in fear and disgust.

"Maybe." I whispered.

When Daniel came along one summer, I thought he was the best thing that's ever happened to me. I was a stupid thirteen year old, that's who I was. I had lied to him about being a witch, saying I only stayed in South Perry for the summer. I should've known he'd find me weird once he found out, just like the rest of my family.

"C'mon, it's almost three in the morning." Oliver's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Wouldn't want McGonagall deducting points from her own house during Transfiguration, would we?"

I shook my head. "She wouldn't be too pleased. Uh...thanks."

Oliver smiled as he stood up and reached for my hand. "You're always welcome. I should be thankful, too. Percy almost hexed me because I was ranting about the match."

I laughed. "Then you're always welcome too, Oliver."

His ears perked up as I took his hand. I looked at the fire that was now dying down. The letter was completely in ashes now, and I felt as if a huge barrier had lifted up from me. I walked up to the girl's dormitories.

"Goodnight, Wood." I smiled.

"It's a good morning, Avery." He smirked, walking up to his room.

a/n: lol new story out, i've been reading a lot of HP fic lately, so i decided to make one woohoo :)