Opposing Forces - Oliver Wood/OC

Oliver and I were not good friends. Never had been. It wasn't for lack of trying. No, it was simply because whenever we spoke we ended up shouting.

It was almost like a curse. Every innocent "hello" came with the threat of something breaking in two. A wave or a nod could set off an explosion, and if unscathed one of us would surely have a bad fall somewhere in between. We could be tied to chairs, blindfolded and gagged, and one of us would still find a way to spontaneously combust in the other's presence.

Don't get me wrong, the interaction could start off great, like the brightest and sunniest of days, not so much as a light breeze to knock you off your balance. It was possible. Unfortunately, the other was inevitable. See, the blue skies could just as easily transform into a dark poisonous violet, the weather turning inhospitable. Before long I'd find myself wading through the acrid swamps of a biological disaster zone.

It sure made getting around Hogwarts into a sport of equal challenge, as I was forced to walk in the opposite direction whenever I saw him. Silly? Sure. But look, the ozone layer is weak enough as it is without our close proximity adding to the ever building fumes.

But today was different. There was an opposing force - I needed him. And when I wanted something I was also a curse to be reckoned with. The curse that caused havoc between the two of us was strong too, sure. But the answer to which of the opposing forces was strongest remained to be seen.

I knew I sure as hell wasn't going to let the corrosive energy between us win without a fight. I was going to be on my very best behaviour. Hazmat suit on. Goggles, gloves - the works.

I found him in the gym down by the pitch. My imagination went haywire when I heard him grunting as he worked one of the machines and had to stifle visions of Oliver I refused to believe I was capable of.