Oliver's Girl

Serenity woke the next morning and got dressed. She chose her emerald green cloak that brought out the green in her eyes. She knew it didn't match her Gryffindor tie too well, but whoever gave her a hard time would have to deal with HER. She let Roxy out of her room and she walked down to the common room. A few students were up already, though she didn't recognize any of them. She ran back up to her room to get her books and she headed down to breakfast.

It was 7:15 when she got down to the Great Hall, and there were about twenty to thirty students chatting and nibbling on crumpets. Most, of course, were Ravenclaws, but Cho wasn't there. She was always one to sleep in. Serenity sat down at her seat and just looked around. She wasn't hungry, but she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep if she went back up to her room. After about ten minutes of boredom and about twenty more students, she decided to take a walk. She asked a Hufflepuff where the Quidditch field was; she would check it out. She always felt a great sense of peace when she was near the tall hoops and large field.

It took her a while to get there but when she did, she was glad. Oliver Wood was out practicing! She took a seat in the bleachers and watched his graceful flying. He flew like the broomstick was a part of him. It wasn't like he was on the Nimbus; it was like he was just flying, almost as if he didn't need the broomstick at all. Around 7:45 he flew down and put the enchanted Quaffle away. He shut the box and looked at it. Then he looked up at Serenity and smiled. She smiled back and decided that she should get up... she needed to talk to him anyway.

She descended through the bleachers and began to walk beside him.

"Hi," she said smiling.

"Hello," he said, smiling in return.

"Uh... so I hear that you're the Quidditch captain..."

"That's me," he said grinning with pride.

"Cool. I saw you flying... you're so graceful!"

"Thanks."

"And I... was wondering... er... well, you are in need of a Chaser, aren't you?

"Great Merlin, yes!"

Serenity smile. "I play."

Oliver stooped walking. "You play? Chaser?" he asked, almost unbelieving. She smiled and nodded. His eyes lit up and she was sure that if his hands weren't full, he'd do a dance or even hug her. "We haven't had practice for weeks because we need a Chaser! We'll have practice tonight... and tomorrow... do you have your broomstick with you?" he asked putting down the box.

"Uh... I can get it." She used a Summoning charm and her Nimbus 2000 was in her hands in mere seconds.

Oliver just grinned at her little performance.

"Okay. We'll just use a simple drill for about five or ten minutes. We don't want to be late for class. One on one alright?"

"Yeah."

He took out the Quaffle and threw it to the sky. They mounted their brooms and took off into the sky.

Oliver caught the ball and they sat in midair.

"Okay. First, I'll throw this and see how fast you can catch it." Serenity smiled. Speed was her specialty. Oliver braced himself and threw the Quaffle as hard as he could. Ren zoomed off and caught it in less than three seconds. She looked back and could tell Oliver was happy.

"Alright. Now you get to chase me for it. And when you get it, try to make a score over there." He nodded to the hoops behind her. "Ready?"

"Ready."

He zoomed off a lot quicker than she thought he would. "I guess he's really not going to go easy on me," she thought. She zoomed after him. He was a fast flyer, but so was she. She almost had him when he made a sharp right turn. She grunted. That she wasn't good at. That little trick got him ahead for a few yards, but she caught up.

"Hm. She's pretty fast," Oliver thought, grasping the Quaffle tighter. He was making a break for the bleachers when she hit him from the side. He struggled to stay on his broom, and while he was getting situated, she snatched the Quaffle. He zoomed after her, but tried to get in front of the rings first. He was too late. He was a mere three feet away when she flung it through the shortest ring. Oliver dived for the Quaffle and landed on the ground. Ren flew down shortly after.

He walked towards the box and put the ball away.

"You're pretty good," he said. "Are you sure you want to join?"

"Yeah!"

"There's practice every night and you don't get a break until the season's over," he said rather seriously.

"I know."

Oliver smiled. "Then welcome to Gryffindor Quidditch."

She smiled back and they headed towards the castle.

As they walked, Serenity noticed how his stride was full of pride when he was talking about his favorite wizarding sport. He had a concentrated look on his face. She was studying his beautiful features when he suddenly looked at her, and then looked away.

"Uh - oh. He must have felt me staring at him," she thought, looking away.

"You should come with me to see Professor McGonagall. She'll want to see our new Chaser," he said.

"Alright. But... won't we be late for class?" she said, glancing at the clock on the wall.

"Don't worry about it. She'll be so happy, she'll write us a note," he said smiling at her again.

She almost melted, but smiled back.

They walked down the hall, making their way through the students heading to class. They entered her room and went to her desk. Professor McGonagall glanced up at the both of them and gave a half smile.

"Yes, Wood?"

"Professor, Serenity is Gryffindor's new Chaser," he said.

"McGonagall turned her gaze towards the teenage girl. She gave the biggest smile that Serenity or Oliver would probably ever see on her.

"Wonderful!" she said. Glancing at her watch she commented, "I suppose you'll need a note?"

"Yes, ma'am. I mean, if you could..."

She picked up a piece of parchment and scribbled a note.

"Don't think you can do this all the time, Wood."

Oliver smiled. "Yes ma'am."

They walked to class together, smiling and chit - chatting. "Luckily we have to cross the lawns again," thought Serenity. She said something to Oliver, but he didn't hear because he was thinking to himself, "We have a chaser! And she's kind of cute..." They reached the greenhouse and he said, "First practice tonight after dinner. See you then."

"Alright."

They grinned and walked into their class.