black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The news of Harry calling out Professor Umbridge in his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year and then earning himself detention with the woman every day for the rest of the week spread like wildfire throughout the castle, though it seemed Olivia was one of the last to hear it. She had been so focused on getting all of her homework done that she hadn't talked to anyone very much. It was Thursday afternoon when she finally heard the news, thanks to George.

"Harry," she greeted the boy, sitting down next to him at the Gryffindor table at lunch right after hearing the news. "I've just heard about your predicament with Umbridge. When did you plan on telling me that you weren't going to make it to try-outs tomorrow?"

Harry made a face as if mentally kicking himself. "I'm sorry, Olivia, I completely forgot about it," he admitted. "I guess my mind has been elsewhere..."

Olivia sighed. "It's okay. I get it. It's your O.W.L. year, you've probably been swamped with homework and then to get detention with that woman on top of it... I was a bit harsh, I apologize. We'll just have to work around not having our Seeker. Just from now on, Harry, keep in mind what Moody said before we got on the train. Keep your head down and stay out of trouble. I don't want you having to skip practice because you've landed yourself another detention."

"I'm trying, Olivia, I really am."

"Look, if it's any consolation, none of us like her either." She motioned to her friends down the table. "In fact, I think I might have questioned her a bit too much yesterday in class. She asked about my grandfather, and I have a bad feeling I'll be receiving a not-so-happy owl from him soon enough. Looks like I'll be having to take my own advice."

"But you're Head Girl. She can't possibly put you in detention, can she?"

"She very well could if she wanted to. Just because I'm Head Girl doesn't mean I get immunity from punishment. It's just very rare for prefects and Head Girls and Boys to get into any sort of trouble simply because the majority of them are very devoted to the rules. Now, I don't promote rule-breaking, but I certainly don't oppose to a bit of fun here and there." She winked at him as she arose from her seat. "See you later, Harry."

"Liv, you went over there to scold him for mouthing off to Umbridge," Angelina said. "Why doesn't he look upset?"

"Because I didn't upset him."

"And why not?"

"The poor boy is dealing with enough. If it happens again I might be a bit more stern with him, but I don't want to add to his stress."

"Meanwhile he's clearly adding to yours by skipping out on try-outs."

"He's not 'skipping out,' it's not like he's willingly going to Umbridge's office every evening for tea and a nice chat. We'll manage tomorrow, it's not like the Keeper and Seeker interact much anyway."

"And if he doesn't get along with the person you choose?"

"Then the both of them better keep it to themselves." She huffed out in frustration, the thought of there being any complication to the Quidditch season already agitating her. "Come on, if we don't get going now, we'll be late for Transfiguration."

"We've got fifteen minutes left!" Fred pointed out as everyone else rose to their feet.

"Don't," George warned him, not wanting to upset his girlfriend further.

That evening after just finishing up her homework, Olivia looked around the Gryffindor common room. Lee, Fred, and George were in a corner with Fraser and Olivia had a feeling it had something to do with their Skiving Snackboxes. She shook her head. They had been told off a few days ago by Hermione, who said that if they didn't stop testing out their inventions on first-years that she was going to write to their mother. So, of course, the most logical thing to do, in their mind, would be to move on to testing out their inventions on third-years.

In a different spot in the common room, Olivia saw Arabella sitting by herself, seemingly working on an essay. Suddenly, a question came to her mind and she got up to join the girl to get her answer. As soon as she sat down next to her, Arabella looked up at her.

"Oh, hello Liv," she greeted her.

"Hello, Bella," Olivia replied. "So, Quidditch try-outs are tomorrow after dinner. Should I be expecting you?"

Arabella set her quill down as she seemed to be thinking about her answer. "No, I don't think so," she said finally. "Only because I know Ron is going to want to try out and if we both try out, I'm obviously going to get it and I don't want that to come in between us, because it will. So far this year is his year and I don't want to be the one that ruins it for him."

Olivia smiled slightly, her heart warmed by Arabella's selflessness towards her twin brother. "I see. That's very sweet of you to do."

Arabella shrugged. "Eh. There's always next year. There's going to be plenty of open spots when you all leave and I've always thought I'd prefer to be a Chaser before anything else."

Olivia suddenly realized something. "That just made me realize that as of now, Harry is the only one on the team that isn't a seventh-year."

"He's also the shortest on the team."

"I think he and Alicia are pretty close in height."

"Eh. He's still a midget."

After saying goodnight to her, Olivia went up to her dormitory for bed. When she got there, she found both Angelina and Alicia sitting up in bed, still very much awake.

"What do you two think you're doing?" Olivia asked them in exasperation.

"Erm... talking," Alicia said awkwardly.

"Well, stop talking and go to sleep! We have try-outs tomorrow!"

"But we're not even trying out!"

"So? You're still going to be playing, and I don't want you yawning the whole time. Now go - to - sleep."

"Okay, okay, we're going!" Angelina said, slipping down in her bed under her covers.

"Merlin, you're worse than my mother," Alicia grumbled.

"What was that?" Olivia asked.

"Nothing! I'm sleeping!"

"Good. Goodnight, my friends."

[word count: 1087]
[written: 6/25/20]
[published: 7/10/20]