They were neighbors ever since childhood. There was never a moment
when you couldn't see the brown haired Scottish boy and the blond haired
British girl playing tag in the fields just behind their houses. Although
the boy grumbled and complained, he grudgingly accepted to play house with
his only childhood friend. As the two grew older, great talk of excitement
now flooded their playtime of the expected day when they themselves would
be going to school. It seems a bit strange to waste a beautiful summer day,
just sitting under the shade of a large oak tree discussing school. But
this was no ordinary school; this was a school that reached far beyond
anyone's wildest dreams. This was a magical school. And the name of this
magical learning center was Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Although their playtime would subdue to only small talks of school, the boy and girl continued to remain playmates. Until one Christmas morning, when the boy received a gift only a child of his age could dream of. "Open it up Oliver, I'm sure you'll find its contents much to your liking," his father said proudly, gazing down at his son with pure admiration. His step-mother, a muggle, beamed from a large couch by the fireplace. Oliver hastily ripped open the paper wrapping and gasped. A gleaming ArrowHawk 370 tumbled into view, its lettering flashing in the light. "Wow dad," he croaked, his small hands reaching down to run over the gleaming wood. "Thanks mum, thanks dad! I've always been asking to get a broom!" Oliver crowed happily, jumping to his feet and rushing to hug his dad first and then his step-mother. Alfred Wood glanced over to his wife and grinned at her. "I told you he would like it," he boasted. "Have I ever told you that you would be wrong?" Tegwen Wood asked in mock confusion.
"Wow Oliver, you're so lucky to get a broom!" the blond girl said in envy behind her muffler. "This is an ArrowHawk 370 Katie, the best broom a kid could get," Oliver hissed with pride, holding up the broom to the winter sunlight. "I know how to read Oliver, it says what kind of broom that is on the side," Katie Bell said hastily. "Do you think you could let me have a go?" she asked timidly. "But you don't even know how to ride a broom," Oliver tried to reason out with her. "Neither do you Oliver Wood," Katie shot back. "But I'll learn," Wood sighed, angling the broom to see all around it. "And I can't?" Katie asked defensively. "Well, you're a girl... why would you want to ride a broom?" Oliver questioned. "This stuff is only for boys," he admonished, and continued to examine his new broom. "Yeah, and who says girls can't do the same things boys can't?" Katie growled. "Well... I say," Oliver shrugged. "I'll prove you wrong Oliver; I bet someday I'll be a better flyer than you," Katie vowed. "Yeah someday," Oliver smirked. "You're impossible Oliver Wood," Katie muttered in disgust and stalked off. Oliver blinked a few times. Did he and his best friend just get into a fight?
(A few years later, the end of the second year at Hogwarts)
"I can't believe you managed to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team Katie!" Ariel Bell shrieked happily once she had picked up her daughter from the London train station. "Me too mum, after months and hours of hard training, I managed to get a position on the Slytherin Quidditch team," Katie said gratefully as her mom offered to take her trunk. "Well you're only going to be in the third year honey, you still have plenty of more years after that to play in the matches," Ariel said hastily. "Don't get too excited mum, I still have to try out each year," Katie said tiredly as she slid into the passenger seat of her mom's truck. "I'll try not to Katie, but you have so much talent, I'll be damn near pissed off if they booted you off the team," Ariel said with furious pride as she started up the ignition. (In case you were wondering, Katie's mom is a muggle. Her dad died in the last uprising of Voldemort). The two drove along in silence before... "You know mum, Oliver made keeper and Quidditch captain at first try out," Katie informed her mother. "Is that so Katie? I don't find that surprising, that boy has a load of talent," Ariel murmured as she excited onto a highway.
A silence filled the car once again and Ariel hesitantly glanced towards her daughter's direction. Katie had her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched; tears were brimming at her eyes. "Katie, honey... what's the matter?" Ariel gasped. She had never seen her daughter cry before. Not in years. "You know mum, I trained just as hard as Oliver had, and I get a lousy position as a chaser," Katie sniffled. "That's not a lousy position! What are you talking about Kat?" Ariel questioned in disbelief. "The captainship was open for the Slytherin team. And what did Hergal do?" Katie said, referring to the former Quidditch Captain, Wade Hergal. "He didn't give it to you?" Ariel offered timidly. "That's right, he gave the position to Marcus Flint," Katie said the name in disgust. "Marcus Flint!" she hollered her face screwing up and causing tears to cascade from her eyes. "Anyone can see that Flint has barely enough brains to tie his own shoes, let alone coach a Quidditch team," Katie growled, brushing away her tears.
"Why would Marcus get the captainship?" Ariel pondered as she pulled off onto their exit that would lead them home from the freeway. "Because they're cousins mum," Katie sighed, rubbing her face in case she forgot any stray tears. "That gives Wade no right...," Ariel began as she pulled to a stop in front of their home. "Of course it doesn't, but it's just favoritism mum, I probably never had a chance to be a captain. I was lucky enough to have even made the team," Katie grumbled as she threw the car door open. "Thanks for the ride mum," she said in a monotone voice. Ariel sighed as she watched her daughter walk up the front steps, pause before going inside, and then shook her head and pushed the door open.
Katie was going through so much lately. It was a shock to find out that she had been placed in Slytherin by the Sorting Hat. Katie had refused to send an owl to Ariel for a while, ashamed that her own mother would take in disgust with her. Oliver Wood wouldn't even look her in the eye; much less consider her a friend anymore. It was hard in the beginning, to make friends in Slytherin. They were a cocky bunch, and sometimes even teased her. During breakfast, lunch and dinner, Katie Bell stared longingly at the other house tables. What she would give to be in Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw, or even Hufflepuff. But the stupid Sorting Hat had placed her in Slytherin, where she felt she didn't belong. She found it a bit annoying too, how Slytherin would tease and torture various students in the different houses. She just didn't belong, but she had to make do. She hoped to gain some friends once she had tried out for and made the Quidditch team.
"Hello Ariel!" someone greeted Ariel as she got out of the car. Ariel glanced to her left and a bright smile replaced her frown. A curvy sort of woman with long brown hair was waving furiously at Ariel. "Why hello Tegwen!" she greeted with a wave. "Have you heard? Our son made the Quidditch team, keeper and captain," she crowed with delight as Oliver got out of his parents car. "Yeah, that's great," Ariel said half heartedly, and then she looked at Oliver. "Congratulations to you Oliver," she said to him. "Thank you Ms. Bell, I heard Katie got a position on the Quidditch team as well," Oliver said. "Yes, indeed you have heard. She got a position as a chaser," Ariel explained. "An excellent position, she'll be a hard one to keep from scoring," Oliver chuckled, "tell her I said congratulations," Oliver added with a good-bye wave. "Will do Oliver," Ariel agreed. She watched with hands on hips as the Wood's disappeared into their home.
Ariel opened the trunk and hefted Katie's trunk out. "Damn girl, what have you got in here?" Ariel groaned at the weight as of Katie's trunk. She managed to drag it across the yard and up the front steps. Just as she was about to open the door herself, it was thrown open for her. "Here, let me take that," Katie said kindly. "Thank you Kat... Katie? Where are you going? Ariel called after her daughter as she watched Katie sullenly drag her trunk to her room. "Honey, are you hungry?" Ariel offered. "No," came the sullen reply. There was a soft click, signaling that Katie had successfully barricaded herself in her room. Ariel sighed and went into the kitchen to make a strong cup of coffee.
Katie let her trunk drop to the floor, causing a heavy thump. She sat on her bed and stared at her wall for a few moments before something caught her attention outside her window. She turned her head and saw, with much disgust, Oliver practicing out in the fields where he and Katie used to play when they had once been friends. He was catching apples and throwing them at random places in the air. Possessed by magic, the apple turned right around and shot itself once again at Oliver. Oliver caught it easily, and continued to the throw the apple at random places. Katie Bell stood up, gripped her curtains in anger, and then snapped them shut. How she hated Oliver Wood.
Although their playtime would subdue to only small talks of school, the boy and girl continued to remain playmates. Until one Christmas morning, when the boy received a gift only a child of his age could dream of. "Open it up Oliver, I'm sure you'll find its contents much to your liking," his father said proudly, gazing down at his son with pure admiration. His step-mother, a muggle, beamed from a large couch by the fireplace. Oliver hastily ripped open the paper wrapping and gasped. A gleaming ArrowHawk 370 tumbled into view, its lettering flashing in the light. "Wow dad," he croaked, his small hands reaching down to run over the gleaming wood. "Thanks mum, thanks dad! I've always been asking to get a broom!" Oliver crowed happily, jumping to his feet and rushing to hug his dad first and then his step-mother. Alfred Wood glanced over to his wife and grinned at her. "I told you he would like it," he boasted. "Have I ever told you that you would be wrong?" Tegwen Wood asked in mock confusion.
"Wow Oliver, you're so lucky to get a broom!" the blond girl said in envy behind her muffler. "This is an ArrowHawk 370 Katie, the best broom a kid could get," Oliver hissed with pride, holding up the broom to the winter sunlight. "I know how to read Oliver, it says what kind of broom that is on the side," Katie Bell said hastily. "Do you think you could let me have a go?" she asked timidly. "But you don't even know how to ride a broom," Oliver tried to reason out with her. "Neither do you Oliver Wood," Katie shot back. "But I'll learn," Wood sighed, angling the broom to see all around it. "And I can't?" Katie asked defensively. "Well, you're a girl... why would you want to ride a broom?" Oliver questioned. "This stuff is only for boys," he admonished, and continued to examine his new broom. "Yeah, and who says girls can't do the same things boys can't?" Katie growled. "Well... I say," Oliver shrugged. "I'll prove you wrong Oliver; I bet someday I'll be a better flyer than you," Katie vowed. "Yeah someday," Oliver smirked. "You're impossible Oliver Wood," Katie muttered in disgust and stalked off. Oliver blinked a few times. Did he and his best friend just get into a fight?
(A few years later, the end of the second year at Hogwarts)
"I can't believe you managed to make the Gryffindor Quidditch team Katie!" Ariel Bell shrieked happily once she had picked up her daughter from the London train station. "Me too mum, after months and hours of hard training, I managed to get a position on the Slytherin Quidditch team," Katie said gratefully as her mom offered to take her trunk. "Well you're only going to be in the third year honey, you still have plenty of more years after that to play in the matches," Ariel said hastily. "Don't get too excited mum, I still have to try out each year," Katie said tiredly as she slid into the passenger seat of her mom's truck. "I'll try not to Katie, but you have so much talent, I'll be damn near pissed off if they booted you off the team," Ariel said with furious pride as she started up the ignition. (In case you were wondering, Katie's mom is a muggle. Her dad died in the last uprising of Voldemort). The two drove along in silence before... "You know mum, Oliver made keeper and Quidditch captain at first try out," Katie informed her mother. "Is that so Katie? I don't find that surprising, that boy has a load of talent," Ariel murmured as she excited onto a highway.
A silence filled the car once again and Ariel hesitantly glanced towards her daughter's direction. Katie had her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched; tears were brimming at her eyes. "Katie, honey... what's the matter?" Ariel gasped. She had never seen her daughter cry before. Not in years. "You know mum, I trained just as hard as Oliver had, and I get a lousy position as a chaser," Katie sniffled. "That's not a lousy position! What are you talking about Kat?" Ariel questioned in disbelief. "The captainship was open for the Slytherin team. And what did Hergal do?" Katie said, referring to the former Quidditch Captain, Wade Hergal. "He didn't give it to you?" Ariel offered timidly. "That's right, he gave the position to Marcus Flint," Katie said the name in disgust. "Marcus Flint!" she hollered her face screwing up and causing tears to cascade from her eyes. "Anyone can see that Flint has barely enough brains to tie his own shoes, let alone coach a Quidditch team," Katie growled, brushing away her tears.
"Why would Marcus get the captainship?" Ariel pondered as she pulled off onto their exit that would lead them home from the freeway. "Because they're cousins mum," Katie sighed, rubbing her face in case she forgot any stray tears. "That gives Wade no right...," Ariel began as she pulled to a stop in front of their home. "Of course it doesn't, but it's just favoritism mum, I probably never had a chance to be a captain. I was lucky enough to have even made the team," Katie grumbled as she threw the car door open. "Thanks for the ride mum," she said in a monotone voice. Ariel sighed as she watched her daughter walk up the front steps, pause before going inside, and then shook her head and pushed the door open.
Katie was going through so much lately. It was a shock to find out that she had been placed in Slytherin by the Sorting Hat. Katie had refused to send an owl to Ariel for a while, ashamed that her own mother would take in disgust with her. Oliver Wood wouldn't even look her in the eye; much less consider her a friend anymore. It was hard in the beginning, to make friends in Slytherin. They were a cocky bunch, and sometimes even teased her. During breakfast, lunch and dinner, Katie Bell stared longingly at the other house tables. What she would give to be in Gryffindor, or Ravenclaw, or even Hufflepuff. But the stupid Sorting Hat had placed her in Slytherin, where she felt she didn't belong. She found it a bit annoying too, how Slytherin would tease and torture various students in the different houses. She just didn't belong, but she had to make do. She hoped to gain some friends once she had tried out for and made the Quidditch team.
"Hello Ariel!" someone greeted Ariel as she got out of the car. Ariel glanced to her left and a bright smile replaced her frown. A curvy sort of woman with long brown hair was waving furiously at Ariel. "Why hello Tegwen!" she greeted with a wave. "Have you heard? Our son made the Quidditch team, keeper and captain," she crowed with delight as Oliver got out of his parents car. "Yeah, that's great," Ariel said half heartedly, and then she looked at Oliver. "Congratulations to you Oliver," she said to him. "Thank you Ms. Bell, I heard Katie got a position on the Quidditch team as well," Oliver said. "Yes, indeed you have heard. She got a position as a chaser," Ariel explained. "An excellent position, she'll be a hard one to keep from scoring," Oliver chuckled, "tell her I said congratulations," Oliver added with a good-bye wave. "Will do Oliver," Ariel agreed. She watched with hands on hips as the Wood's disappeared into their home.
Ariel opened the trunk and hefted Katie's trunk out. "Damn girl, what have you got in here?" Ariel groaned at the weight as of Katie's trunk. She managed to drag it across the yard and up the front steps. Just as she was about to open the door herself, it was thrown open for her. "Here, let me take that," Katie said kindly. "Thank you Kat... Katie? Where are you going? Ariel called after her daughter as she watched Katie sullenly drag her trunk to her room. "Honey, are you hungry?" Ariel offered. "No," came the sullen reply. There was a soft click, signaling that Katie had successfully barricaded herself in her room. Ariel sighed and went into the kitchen to make a strong cup of coffee.
Katie let her trunk drop to the floor, causing a heavy thump. She sat on her bed and stared at her wall for a few moments before something caught her attention outside her window. She turned her head and saw, with much disgust, Oliver practicing out in the fields where he and Katie used to play when they had once been friends. He was catching apples and throwing them at random places in the air. Possessed by magic, the apple turned right around and shot itself once again at Oliver. Oliver caught it easily, and continued to the throw the apple at random places. Katie Bell stood up, gripped her curtains in anger, and then snapped them shut. How she hated Oliver Wood.