black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The next week, as was the case with most weeks during this school year, was very busy for Olivia. On top of struggling to get all of her homework done on time and Quidditch practice, she was keeping an eye out for places that would be suitable for the defense group. All of this led to her not getting much sleep. She hadn't been this sleep-deprived since her third year.

On Friday morning as her friends complained about having Defense Against the Dark Arts straightaway, Olivia wasn't paying them much mind as she was focusing on coming off as awake and alert as possible so she wouldn't worry them. In fact, she was so focused on trying to eat her breakfast that she hadn't heard the sound of the owls arriving to deliver mail until a long package was dropped in front of her.

"What the...?" she said, looking up from her plate to the package. Just from looking at it, she could already tell it was a broom. "But I already have a broom."

"Yeah, a five year old Comet 290," Angelina reminded her as if she should be glad to be rid of it. "Open it!"

"I was getting there." Olivia shot her a look before opening the package. As soon as she saw the inscription on the handle, her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. "No way. They didn't!"

"Woah!" Fraser said, coming over to see what all the fuss was about. "A Firebolt?"

"Keep your voice down!" George told him. "We don't need everyone coming over here and asking to have a go on it. Speaking of having a go on it, are you going to?" He directed his question to Olivia.

"No, I was just going to put it up in the dormitory and keep it in there for safe-keeping," she said sarcastically before grabbing the new Firebolt and getting up from the table.

Her friends all got up and followed her out of the Great Hall, along with Fraser who called to Duncan and told him to come with. They all walked down to the Quidditch pitch, where Olivia mounted the broom and took off.

The broom was so fast that her vision was slightly blurred, and she was amazed at how easily she could maneuver it so that she wouldn't crash into anything. She was already imagining Quidditch matches with the Firebolt and suddenly felt even more confidence for the season. After a few minutes, she landed back on the ground by her friends and cousins, an exhilarated look on her face.

"Can I have a go now?" Fraser asked eagerly.

"Yeah, sure," Olivia said, handing over the broom. "But if you crash it, it's your life on the line."

His eyes widened for a split second at the threat before nodding and saluting her. "Yes, ma'am." Then he was gone.

"If you're afraid he's going to crash it, why'd you give it to him?" Lee asked.

"Honestly, if I were given a Firebolt, I wouldn't trust anyone with it but me," Fred said.

"Because I know he's not going to," Olivia said, disregarding Fred's comment. "He's a natural flier, I don't think he's ever crashed. I just wanted to make sure he had the extra motivation not to crash, you know?"

Once Fraser came back down, Olivia allowed Duncan to test out the Firebolt and as soon as he landed back on the ground, they all headed back inside the castle, Olivia promising her friends that during their first free period of the day, they could each have a go on it as well.

Even though the quick ride on the Firebolt had woken her up, it didn't last long and halfway through Defense Against the Dark Arts, she found herself having to stifle yawns. It didn't help that George kept playing with her hair from his seat behind her, and that always made her sleepy. By the time they were all lounging in the common room that evening doing their homework, she could hardly keep her eyes open.

"Liv, you really should go to bed and catch up on your sleep," George advised her as he watched her jerk her head up after nearly falling asleep.

"I can't, I have homework," she said, trying to get her tired eyes to focus on the Arithmancy worksheet in front of her.

"It's due Tuesday, you have three days to get it done," Alicia reminded her.

"I know, but then there's the Herbology essay and the Transfiguration work I still haven't done."

"The Herbology essay is due Monday and the Transfiguration work is also due Tuesday. Just wait until tomorrow to do it, you have plenty of time."

"But..." Olivia trailed off. She had just established a strategy for herself that allowed her to get all of her work done on time, and if she put off her homework even for just a day, she'd be ruining it. On the other hand, she was really tired. "Fine." She stuffed her homework back into her bag. "But I still have to write a letter to Mum, Grandma, and Grandpa to thank them for the Firebolt." She took out some parchment to do so.

"You can also wait until tomorrow morning to do that."

"No, I can do it now. It won't take long." Her speech was punctuated by yawns as she placed the parchment in her lap. However, she was so exhausted that once she had done that, she forgot what she had been about to do.

"And if you're still super tired by Sunday evening, we can take over Quidditch practice for you while you rest," Angelina offered. "We get what we're doing. Right, guys?" She looked around at Fred, George, and Alicia and they nodded in agreement, none of them except for George noticing that Olivia's head had slumped onto his shoulder. "We can keep Harry and Ron under control; they're not too bad. Liv?"

Olivia didn't answer, nor had she heard any of what Angelina had said. She had fallen asleep on George's shoulder.

"Wow," Lee said. "She must be really tired."

"Yeah, no kidding," Angelina said. "She hasn't done that since third year, except then it was my shoulder."

"And back then, she wasn't as busy as she is now, even with the overlapping classes," Alicia said.

"Overlapping classes? How does that work?" Fred asked.

"Time-turner," the girls answered.

"You're kidding."

"We're not," Angelina said. "She just barely managed for most of the year, but after exams she finally told us about it and we convinced her to turn it in and drop a few classes. She was going mad, you should've seen her."

"It was horrible," Alicia said. "I just hope it doesn't repeat this year."

George looked down at his girlfriend, who was still fast asleep, and kissed the top of her head before stroking her hair. "It won't," he said. "Not on my watch."

[word count: 1170]
[written: 7/2/20]
[published: 7/13/20]