Author's Note: Written for QLFC (Season 4, Finals 1). Position: Keeper for the Falmouth Falcons

Word Count: 1,145

Write about Katie Bell and Oliver Wood. The story must contain a simile (underlined) and a section written in epistolary form.

The library lay quiet and unobtrusive at the end of the hallway. A soft light emanated from within, beckoning her closer, and, stepping in, Katie Bell saw no one. Not even Madam Pince sat at her perch; no watchful eyes followed from the shadows.

Katie knew the way to the shelf before the path registered in her head. The book─Eponymous Quidditch Moves and Tricks─stood out like a sore thumb amongst the others; a piece of parchment was clenched between the pages, rising to scrape against the bottom of the next shelf.

For a couple of weeks now, this particular book had served as a messenger. Every other day, a new letter would wait for her; every other day, she would write one back. The sender was anonymous and delightful. He—she assumed; the handwriting was atrocious—was witty and serious and stupid in all the right ways.

Flicking open the book to grab the letter within, she sat down.

I could help you.

Disappointment registered first. Four measly words. Excitement registered second. In her last letter, she'd complained that the Quidditch terms were difficult to get the hang of, and now he wanted to help. Shooting the empty library a couple of furtive glances, she brought out her inkwell and quill, writing, 'Yes, please.'

The next day, she found a response.

I have an idea. We take turns explaining the terms to each other with references to our own lives. It'll be the closest thing we get to knowing who the other person is. We'll do it like dictionary entries. I'll go first to give you an idea.

Hawkshead Attacking Formation, adj.

Always surrounded by two people that act as shields, guardians, or other deflectors.

Katie scribbled, 'Is that a description of you or someone you know?'

So began the Dictionary of Everyday Quidditch Terms.

It's someone I know.

'Mysterious. My turn, then.

Bludger Backbeat, adj.
With a sense of nonchalance, on the brink of indifference.

I thought it described your response well.'

Hah, you don't say. I didn't mean to discourage you, but we had a deal: no names. You could say that I was guilty of

Double Eight Looping, verb
Guarding one's behaviour.

'Well played. I guess, in that case, that I'll

Sloth Grip Roll, verb
Let something slide.

But really, I thought this exercise was partly because you wanted to know something about me? If we keep going like this, we'll have used up the terms before I get a chance to tell you my favourite colour.'

You're right. What is your favourite colour?

'I'm sorry, is that a

Finbourg Flick, noun
Cheap trick to score, see pick-up line.'

My, my. I do think I just witnessed someone trying to

Transylvanian Tackle, verb
Pretending to interpret something as romantic to see someone else's reaction in order to glean if they're romantically interested.

'I won't even honour that with a response.'

Good. Then I'll do the talking for a while. I suppose you're

Reverse Passing, verb
Letting someone else take control.

But serious business, huh? I'm going to suppose you're a Quidditch fan. I've tried using these terms with my friends for years, and after all this time, they still don't know what they mean. Not that my friends don't like Quidditch, but it takes a hard-core fan to be interested in something like the rich history and the strategic terms. I appreciate that about you.

Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw is in two days. Will you be there?

And just so you won't feel cheated: my favourite colour is red.

'I think I can safely tell you that you're right. I'm a Quidditch fan. Which, incidentally, is also why it took me so long to respond. I had some preparations to make before the match, although I won't tell you what they were; it would make it too easy to tell me apart, and like you said, we have a deal.

Speaking of the match, though, I have a new word for you.

Plumpton Pass, noun
When you gain glory accidentally, but look good doing it.

An example would be the match last Saturday. I won't name any names, but there was someone at that match who made a Plumpton Pass. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks.'

I'm not sure I know who you're talking about. At first glance, I'd say you were referring to the Gryffindor Keeper, but that can't be right. It was no accident that he received the glory for that match. I mean, he practically caught the Snitch for the Seeker. Not that the rest of the team didn't do well. The Chasers did well under his supervision. He is, after all, the Captain of the team.

But if you're calling him a

Snitchnip, noun
Someone doing something that is usually someone else's job.

I can only say that he did that perfectly well.

'Yeah, absolutely. It was very

Starfish and Stick, adj.
Foolish, unsafe, bold. What a Gryffindor.'

Well, he isn't in that house for nothing.

'Well, aren't you very loyal?'

Gryffindor is my team.

'Your team?'

You know what I mean.

…

You have a crush on the Gryffindor Keeper, don't you?

'Moving on.

There aren't a lot of terms left. If any of them apply to my life, I'd say it was

Parkin's Pincer, noun
Where two people flank a third to ask him/her a series of questions they don't want to answer.'

How specific. How mysterious.

'Tell me about it. I can't tell you who they asked me about, of course. There was something off about it, though. They were asking as if they knew exactly what to look for. That sounds weird. I don't know how to explain it.

By the way, you're obviously a Gryffindor fan, which means you're a Gryffindor.'

No, no. That makes perfect sense. Sounds like they were acting as a

Dopplebeater Defence, noun
One or more wingmen.

And hey, no specifics.

'I doubt it. The person they were asking about keeps

Woolongong Shimmying, verb
Trying not to show your real emotions in fear that they're not reciprocated.

That's perhaps unfair. He's oblivious enough that I doubt he'd even notice if he had feelings for me. He definitely didn't send them. Actually, now that I'm putting this down on paper, I realise how stupid I've been. He only has eyes for one thing.

You and he would get along great.

Maybe I should just move on.'

Are you sure you're not just pulling a

Wronski Feint, noun
One person walking away to see if the other will follow.

'Let's talk about something else, shall we?'

Sure. Only one term to go.

Knock knock. You there?

It's been weeks.

Katie, come on.

I'm sorry. I guess it's fitting that I get the last term, then. My turn to

Dionysus Dive, verb
Dive in, variation of the Chelmondiston Charge.