Capto Fidelis

Ch. 1 - "I Remember You..."

Oliver strode down the hallway with Percy Weasley, heading towards Defense Against the Dark Arts. For once, he was early. Probably because Percy had dragged him out of the dining hall. He sighed. That Yorkshire Pudding had looked tempting... He clsoed his eyes for a moment, rationalizing how it would have improved his Quidditch practice, and was startled by Percy's voice warning him about---

Bang!

Oliver felt himself slam into something, and saw books scatter across the hallway. He bent down to pick them up, and looked up into the thing he had bumped into. An unfamiliar girl. A very attractive unfamiliar girl.

"Er. . . Sorry." He said, flashing her a grin.

She raised an eyebrow and continued to gather her books.

"My name's Wood. Oliver Wood. And you would be?"

Oliver felt Percy kick him, then heard a fervent whisper. "Oliver, she's in our year!"

The girl had evidently heard Percy and smiled. "Hullo Percy." She turned to Oliver. "Wood. . . Yes, I remember you. You used to cheat off me in Potions." She slung her bag over her shoulder, winked, and walked off.

"Honestly Oliver!" Percy exclaimed. "Don't you even know anyone besides Gryffindors?

Oliver shrugged. "Apparently not."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Her name's Sylvia Townsend. Ravenclaw. I assume you know her year now, and she's one of Penelope's friends. I've noticed she always gets high marks in Transfiguration, but mediocre in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Very nice, bright. . . I'm better than her at chess, though she and Penny have always competed for high--."

Oliver patted Percy on the back. "Ok, Perce. . . I get it. Does she lik-"

"No. But she dates someone who does."

Oliver raised an eyebrow.

"Davies."

The next day, Oliver Wood's mind was fixed solely on Quidditch. It really shouldn't have been. It should have been on a number of things -- how he was doing miserably in Transfiguration, how he had a suspicion his girlfriend was seeing someone else, or even how the group of girls that usually followed him had grown bigger, for example. But no. Quidditch it was. He needed a new broom, come to think of it. And Harry need to work desperately on diversionary tactics. He needed to get the whole team practicing soon-- they were going to be the first team to start practices, they were. Their first match was scheduled against Slytherin - in almost exactly 2 months time, which, in Oliver's opinion, was not nearly enough time. Consequently, he wandered around looking for the Weasleys, and ended up walking into Transfiguration right after the bell had rung.

Professor McGonagall glared at him over the tops of her spectacles. "Mr. Wood. . . do try to be on time for at least one of my classes."

He shrugged "It's not for lack of trying, Professor."

She looked at him, scowling slightly.

"Sorry, Professor...it's just that we have a match..."

"In two months, Wood, I know." She sighed. "Sit down, then. And please try to concentrate!"

He sat, and rustled in his bag for a good quill, a bottle of ink, and parchment. Finding them, he pulled out a very worn copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration. As he set his things on his desk, he noticed the person sitting next to him was most definitely not Percy Weasley. He glanced up, saw Percy next to Penelope, then turned slightly, finally looking right into the eyes of the girl from the hallway.

She arched an eyebrow at him.

Oliver grinned back. "Townsend, isn't it?"

"Wood." She smiled. "Glad to see you went to the trouble of asking Percy my name."

"Least I could do."

She put her finger up to her lips then, and inclined her head slightly towards Professor McGonagall.

"Wood!" McGonagall's voice rang out suddenly. "Because of your lateness, perhaps you would like to enlighten the class on the advantages of the spell Abutorus for defence against most Transfiguration spells?"

"Ah . . . well. . ." Oliver stammered. "It's good. . . because. . .er"

"Thank you for your valiant attempt, Mr. Wood." McGonagall looked crossly at him. "Anyone else?"

Penelope and Townsend raised their hands at the same time and spoke.

"Because the word abutorus means using a word wrongly--" Penelope began.

Townsend interrupted "--it changes the incantation." She turned to Oliver and smiled. "Chapter 6," she whispered.

Oliver smiled weakly back at her.

"--into something harmless--" Penelope had continued.

Townsend's attention was brought back to the lesson "--but, of course, it usually works only on inanimate objects--"

"--but only when pronounced correctly--"

"--not A-BU-torus--"

"--but A-bu-TOR-us--"

Oliver realized the lesson was becoming a contest in who knew more about the chapter, Penelope or Townsend. He felt himself beginning to drift off.

He felt a sharp elbow poke him, and he started.

Townsend sat looking at him pointedly. "Welcome back," she said simply, then turned back to Professor McGonagall.

"I. . ."

She shushed him. At that moment, McGonagall announced that class had ended.

Oliver sighed in relief, and turned to Townsend. "I...I was thinking about Quidditch." He said, by way of an explanation.

She laughed. "You're all alike."

He furrowed his brow, confused.

" Quidditch players."

"Aren't you dating one?" He grinned and lightly punched her in the arm.

"Everyone makes mistakes."

He leaned in closer. "Feel like making another?"

She laughed. "What Percy might not have told you, Wood, is that Roger and I have been together since the middle of last year. And we're quite happy." Her mouth became a straight line, and then she bent down to gather her things. "But you needn't worry about that. Terribly sorry, but I've got to get to class."

And with that, she walked out very quickly, leaving Oliver amongst parchment. He looked down and saw notes in a very steady, even hand. They certainly weren't his, so he picked them up, and ran out the door, looking for her.

She was with Davies.

Oliver cursed softly, then ran down the hallway. He reached her, and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Wood? Did you need something?" she asked.

He grinned widely at her. "You left your notes in Transfiguration, love."

Davies glared at him, and began to pull Townsend down the hallway.

"Thank you." She looked him up and down, then took Davies' arm and walked off.

"You're welcome," he called to her now retreating figure.