A/N: Okay.. so here's my first Harry Potter fanfic.. Lack of enthusiasm
due to the fact that I have two papers do by the end of the week and I
haven't started either of them!! Yay for procrastination!! So anyway, the
character is mine if you are wondering..
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, he and all the other characters are owned by the lovely J.K. Rowling...
~ ^ ~
I like to stay up late, spend hours on the phone.
Hanging out with all my friends and never being at home.
I'm impolite and I make fun of everyone.
I'm immature but I will stay this way forever.
Until the day I die, I promise I won't change,
So you better give up.
I don't wanna be told to grow up.
And I don't wanna change,
I just wanna have fun.
I don't wanna be told to grow up.
And I don't wanna change,
So you better give up.
No I don't wanna change,
So you better give up.
Cause I'm not gonna change,
I don't wanna grow up.
- "Grow Up" by Simple Plan
'Here we go,' thought a tall brunette as she made her way down an unfamiliar corridor. Her eyes were an unclear misty green, she was quite unsure of herself at this time. She had passed many moving portraits and nodded and smiling at her acknowledging her presence. She followed the directions given to her earlier and was now in front of a set of rather large wooden doors. She sighed as she looked up at them. "Here goes nothing," she said taking her first strides towards the doors.
"You might want to wait," a thick accented voice from the shadows told her.
Rachel stopped and turned towards the source of the voice smiling, "And why would I do that?"
"I don't know," the figure began to come closer. "It just might do you better if Dumbledore announced your arrival first." Then she saw him, he was tall and built, with short brown hair and shining brown eyes, along with luscious lips, which were smiling slightly at her.
"Thanks," Rachel replied leaning back on her right hip, and allowing her left hand to rest a top the other. She stuck out her right hand and introduced herself; "I'm Rachel Rivers, the new girl. I just transferred from Santa Barbara Academy in California," she laughed shaking her head from side to side mimicking their new governor.
"Oliver Wood," he said shaking her hand tightly. He surveyed the girl in front of him, she had straight light brown hair with some blonde highlights, and her new school uniform fit quite nicely, in all of the right places. Her robe hung open in the front to reveal a tight white button down shirt, and gray skirt that would make most of these boys drool. White knee socks covered her toned legs, and a pair of black Converse classic high tops, which clashed terribly with the schoolgirl outfit. Oliver continued, "I'm a substitute Professor until Madam Hooch, the normal flying instructor returns. I play for Puddlemere United, but I'm on leave to help out and old friend."
"Puddlemere eh?" she smiled retrieving her hand. Her eyes shone an icy bright blue; "I don't really follow pro quidditch. I'd rather be playing than watching someone else." Rachel could now start to hear the murmurs behind the doors quite down and one voice could be heard above all of the others, she turned her head slightly to get a better listen.
Oliver laughed a bit, "you play?"
Rachel turned her head sharply, "Yeah, I play," she glared her eyes which turned a slight bit grayer.
He smiled brightly, "which position do you fancy?"
She took a step closer to him saying, "I 'fancy' many different
positions," she replied smirking but then returned to glare. "But I happen to be the best Chaser on the West Coast," her eyes burning into his. "How about you?"
He blushed slightly, but he had set himself up for that one, she laughed and putting a finger to his lips, he signaled for her to quiet down he smiled at her lightly and leaned down closer to her ear, "I'm a Keeper," her told her.
She smiled playfully behind her dark eyes and whispered back, "that you are."
He raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to her face, he could feel her breath on his neck and her hair smelt like grapes. His stomach did a flip- flop and he heard Dumbledore's vioce loudly behind the doors.
"..And we have a new student joining us at Hogwarts; she's just transferred from Santa Barbara Academy in California. I'd like you all to welcome Ms. Rachel Rivers."
Oliver jumped back from her and quickly into the shadows, "That's your-"
"Cue, I know," she nodded turning away from him and pushing on the heavy doors. They opened automatically to reveal a large room with five long tables. Four of them on the floor and one at the front of the hall overseeing them all. At the head table, which she recognized to be the Professor's table, she saw one empty seat, 'I guess that one's for Oliver.' She sighed walking to the front where there was an old hat sitting on a stool. One female professor got up and walked down to her, she began to reach for the hat when it sung out.
"You've arrived later that we'd hoped before,
I know I shouldn't say, but this bit should be told,
The Quidditch Queen is here, you'll see!
And her King not far behind.
When the forest meets the water, great things will come to be,
But the love between two opposites will conquer what elements can't."
Rachel's mouth opened slightly as her eyes widened at the hat sitting infront of her. The professor looked annoyed, but more confused than anything.
"Rachel Rivers," she said removing the hat from the stool and motioning for her to sit.
Rachel obeyed and sat down; the old hat was then placed on her head. She heard a buzzing sound by her ears and then heard that voice again.
"Hmm, this is quite interesting. Qualities of all the houses. Friendless of a Hufflepuff, the intelligence of a Ravenclaw, the bravery of a Gryffindor, and a relative in Slytherin. But where should you go?"
Rachel sighed a whisper, "Where ever I am needed most."
"Ahh, a Queen that follows her King. All right then, GRYFFINDOR!!"
The hat was removed from Rachel's head and one of the tables jumped into rejoicing. The other tables were clapping politely except for one off to the side. She walked down the stairs and joined the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to a redheaded boy and across from her a bushy haired girl with her nose in a book. She caught a pair of emerald green eyes smiling at her. She looked over to a messy black-haired boy sitting across from the redhead. She beamed back, her baby blues shining brighter.
Dumbledore, who applauded at her sorting, again stood up and began to speak again. "Now that that has been completed, now let me introduce a substitute professor."
The bushy-haired girl looked up at this.
"Since Madam Hooch is on leave for the time being, I would like to introduce you to the current flying instructor, Professor Wood," Dumbledore said raising his hand towards the door.
The doors opened, and everyone turned. Oliver Wood walked confidently into the Great Hall, it had been awhile since he had been there, and he tried not to be too mesmerized by its enchanted ceiling. So instead he looked towards the old Gryffindor table. He spotted Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Rachel. Along with someone who appeared to be Hermione Granger.
While walking past the four, he smiled widely at his old school mates, and winked at Rachel.
Rolling her eyes in disgust as Hermione did the same, they both turned their attention back to Dumbledore. Harry and Ron both gave each other a look at the two girls' reactions and they tried ignoring the rests of the girls' babble on how cute Oliver was.
Oliver took his seat at the Professor's table and Dumbledore announced loudly, "And there is one more matter to address, that this weekend will be a Hogsmeade weekend, so please sign up in your common rooms this evening and enjoy yourselves. Now let the feast begin!"
The food magically appeared on platters in front of them. Rachel eyed the new food and began to put it on her plate as Ron shoveled it in his mouth. Rachel gave him a disgusted glance as he stuffed his face.
"Umm... dude, you might want to swallow before you choke, okay?" she said turning to her own plate.
Ron wiped his mouth on his sleeve and stuck out his hand. "Thanks, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley."
"Hi Ron," she said shaking his hand.
"That's Harry," he said pointing to the black haired boy with a chicken leg.
She smiled and shook his hand with a shy 'Hello' she looked back to Ron.
"And that's Hermione," acknowledging the girl across from her.
"Hello," she said shaking the girl's hand.
"Are you going to eat that?" Ron asked pointing at Rachel's potatoes.
She looked at him bemused. "If you lay one fork by my plate Ronald Weasley, I'll stab you with mine," she said before digging into her own plate.
He stared at her with wide scared eyes. He swallowed his food with a gulp.
Rachel laughed and putting a hand on his, "Ron, I was joking. But keep away from my potatoes," she giggled.
Harry chuckled at the small joke and looked over to Oliver. He seemed, different, he seemed dazed, but he was now staring at someone. Harry looked at his old quidditch captain confused and tried to follow his gaze but he looked down at his food and continued eating rather quickly. Shrugging at the Oliver's odd behavior, he continued eating and vaguely listening to Ron and Hermione's argument over wizard's chess. Rachel seemed to be taking a neutral stance in the discussion and was staring at the fruit bowl with her right elbow propped up on the table and her mouth in her hand. "Are you all right?" Harry asked her.
She jumped out of her daze and looking around to see that the Great Hall was mostly cleared out, she looked over to him, "Yeah, I'm fine," she yawned, "just a little tired I guess. Must be the jet lag."
Ron who had finished his argument with Hermione looked at her questioningly, "What's jet lag?"
Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes, Rachel gave a slight laugh as she stretched and said to Ron, "It's a Muggle thing."
Ron who shrugged in return looked at Harry who was smiling at Rachel. Hermione simply got up and started to walk away.
"Hey," Ron started, "where are you going?"
Harry rolled his eyes at the obvious question.
"To the Library," she replied not turning around.
Rachel watched her leave then turned when she heard her name being called.
"Rachel, would you mind coming over here please?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Sure Professor," she said getting up, turning back to the boys she said, "you two go on without me."
"But you don't know your way to the common room," Ron began.
She stopped and said jokingly, "Oh, I'm sure I'll find my way, and if I'm not back by dawn, send a search party," she kept towards the Headmaster. 'I wonder what's up?' she thought. As she approached him, walking smiling brightly, "You needed something Professor?" she asked.
"Please Rachel," he said. "Call me Dumbledore." She nodded her head at his wish and listened again. "I just wanted to remind you, that if you should have anymore nightmares, that you should come and speak to me. If you need help finding my office, you may ask one of your new friends, they make it a habit of seeing me when good advice is needed," he smiled down at her over his crescent moon spectacles.
"Sure Dumbledore," she replied. "But do you think that I could get a map so I can find my new room?" she asked with a slight laugh.
"Nonsense," he stated. "I'm sure Professor Wood would not mind showing you the way, considering it was his old dormitories," the old man said with a twinkle in his eyes.
As this was said Oliver Wood looked up. 'Huh? What's going on?' He thought.
"Professor Wood," Dumbledore called.
Oliver stood up and walked over to where Dumbledore and Rachel were. "Yes Dumbledore?" he asked.
"Would you mind escorting Ms. Rivers to the Gryffindor dormitories seeing as it is her first time here?"
"Not at all, sir," he smiled at Albus and turned to Rachel. "Right this way," he turned and led her out of the door. They walked down the corridor and over to a bright stone room with hundreds of staircases above and below them. "This ways the fastest, but watch out," he started.
"Why?" she asked following him onto one of the staircases.
"Cause the staircases like to change," he pointed above them to the moving staircases.
She looked up and continued walking slowly. "Whoa, that's so cool." As they were about halfway up their current set, it detached itself from its platform and moved towards a wall. "Yikes!" Rachel exclaimed grabbing onto the railing and wrapping her arms around the banister.
Oliver laughed slightly, remembering when he got caught on the moving stairs.
She glared at him, "What's so funny?" still hanging on for dear life.
"This is just comical that's all," he replied.
"Yeah," she mumbled. "Real Garfield material."
As the staircase stopped Rachel bolted up the rest of the way taking her steps two by two and passing Oliver. "Hey!" he shouted as she nearly bowled him over.
"Sorry," she said at the top of the stairs turning around, "I'm not getting stuck on that joy ride again." She stated while pointed to the stairs.
When Oliver reached the top, he looked around and collected his bearings. "Umm.. we have to take a slight detour."
"Well that sucks," Rachel said following him down a few corridors. As the made a few lefts and a few rights and up a few stairs Oliver said, "It's just around this corner," looking back at her. He rounded the corner and WHAM!!
Oliver Wood walked straight into a wall. Rachel wasn't even going to trying to contain herself. Upon his collision she burst out laughing and began clutching her sides Oliver fell onto his butt and started rubbing his head. Rachel crossed her legs and fell down into a sitting position on the floor still holding her stomach in a fit of giggles.
"That wasn't funny," Oliver stated.
She stopped laughing and looked at him, "Oh yes it was!" She started laughing again. "You were all like, 'It's right around this corner!' BAM!!!" Then it started all again.
"I guess it was kinda funny.." he started standing up.
"Pshh! You don't know the half of it!" she almost fell over backwards but Oliver came over.
"Okay, play time's over, let's get you to the Common Room," he said walking over to her and pulling her up by her hand.
He lead her back a few turns and went straight, then continued around a few more corridors until the reached a flight of stairs.
Rachel turned to him and smiled playfully, "Race you there?"
He smiled back and said "You're on. But wait, what do I get when I win?"
"When you win? Wood, if you win you get bragging rights, K?"
"Alright," he said looking at her, then down to his hand, which was still holding hers. She pulled away quickly and he blushed. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"Don't be," she smiled.
He gave her that award winning Quidditch smile, "Let's go."
Then both stood next to each other in a racing position. "Oh my mark," Rachel started. "Get set," and she took off up the stairs.
"Hey!! Not fair!" Oliver shouted back.
"Go!!" she laughed taking the steps two, three at a time, as Oliver gaining on her.
She was laughing the entire way and as she got to the top of the stairs and onto the flat corridor she turned around and started running backwards. "Looks like I get bragging righ-!!" she exclaimed but then fell very ungracefully on her backside as she missed that there were three more stairs before the Fat Lady's portrait.
As soon as she hit the ground she started laughing and Oliver ran right past her. "Hey!" she said rolling over.
"What?" he stopped smiling wildly at her.
"Weren't you going to stop and see if I was okay?" she said sitting up.
Oliver stood there in mock-thought. "Umm, no," he replied playfully.
Rachel gave him a look and stood up. She dusted off her robes and walked over to Oliver. She punched him playfully in the shoulder.
"Hey," he said rubbing his arm. She stuck her tongue at him. "Oh that's real mature," he said back.
"Thank you," she replied walking over to the Fat Lady in a pink dress who asked, "Password?"
"Password?" Rachel said incredulously. "All we had to do was remember a pattern," she pouted. Turning to Oliver she asked, "Care to share?"
He thought for a bit, "Nope."
"And why not?" she asked leaning on her right hip.
"Cause you were being mean," he said.
"Me? Mean?" she asked in mock horror, "Never! C'mon man, give me detention or whatever, take away privileges, just give me the stinkin' password."
He laughed slightly crossing his arms and leaning sideways on the wall. "You can wait," he smiled widely.
"Urrghh," she groaned and slid down the wall and sat on the floor. "Why won't you just give me the password?" she asked losing her patience rather quickly.
Oliver looked down at her, "You want the truth?"
She looked up at him angerly, "As opposed to a lie? Please!"
"They never told it to me," he said rather pathetically.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait," Rachel said standing up. "You mean to tell me, that Dumbledore sent you to show me where the Gryffindor Commons are, and you didn't even ask for the password before we left?!?"
"I thought you knew it!" he accused.
"But I'm the New Girl!! I'm supposed to be lost for the first week anyway!" she shouted back.
"Look yelling isn't getting us anywhere. Maybe you should just come and stay in my room tonight.." he trailed off in thought.
She looked up at him, "As good as that sounds, do you know how much trouble we could get in?!?"
"Sorry! It was just a suggestion!"
He plopped down on the floor beside the portrait and she sat down near him. He sighed loudly and she shivered a little. "Cold?" he asked.
"Yeah," she snapped.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Don't be, I snapped at you," she said.
"It's okay," he replied taking off his cloak.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Here," he handed it to her. "You should wear my cloak."
"No," she said moving closer to him, "then you'll freeze. We'll share it."
"Okay," he mumbled as he placed the cloak over both of them. Rachel yawned and placed her head on his shoulder. "Here," Oliver said, wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her closer. "Better?" he asked.
"Much," she whispered, dozing off on his shoulder. He rested his head against the wall and thought, 'You're not tired. Yep, only resting your eyes.' Soon Oliver Wood was fast asleep.
~ ^ ~ Later, around one o'clock. ~ ^ ~
"Shh," a voice said to another as the slowly crept up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room. They heard a light snoring as the Fat Lady came into view, but what surprised them were the two figures sleeping peacefully near the portrait. The two figures recognized to be Oliver Wood and Rachel Rivers.
"Look at that, Harry. Those two look so... soo..." he trailed off.
"Cute?" Harry said removing the Invisibility Cloak from around the two of them.
"Yeah," Ron wondered. "Should we wake them?"
"Yeah, Ron. Cause if we don't and someone else does, then they'll have a lot of explaining to do. Quick, take the cloak inside."
Ron walked up and whispered the password to the sleeping Fat Lady, "Starry Nights." The down swung open to reveal a dim common room. He snuck in and took the cloak up to the 6th year boys' dorms and placed it on Harry's bed.
Meanwhile, Harry walked over to the sleeping couple and poked Oliver on the shoulder. "Oliver.. Oliver, wake up," he whispered.
The flying instructor's eyes blinked open and he looked around stretching. "Uhh, what time is it?" Then he noticed the sleeping girl beside him and stopped all movements to prevent waking her.
"It's around one o'clock in the morning, I heard snoring and it woke me up."
"Ah.." Oliver whispered standing up and picking Rachel up and carrying her in his arms. Harry led him into the commons and up to the 6th year girl's room, where he opened the door for her and found her bed. Oliver placed her down on it and covered her up, laying his cloak by her chair, he took out some of Hermione's ink and parchment and borrowed a quill and scribbled a note down for Rachel, leaving it by her bedside.
Oliver thanked Harry and headed out into the corridors yawning. When he reached his room, he removed his shirt and shoes and fell on the bed in a deep sleep.
~ ^ ~ The next morning. ~ ^ ~
Rachel woke when the sun was shining brightly into her eyes. She squirmed under the covers and rolled over. 'Wait, covers??' She thought and shot upright looking around, she was in a four poster bed with gold and scarlet all around her. She stared amazed for a bit then looked over to see her trunk at the end of her bed and a cloak and a parchment by her bed. She picked it up and smelt it, recognizing it as Oliver's and picking up the parchment reading it to herself.
Rachel,
If you were wondering, the password is 'Starry Nights'.
Oliver
She sighed rolling her eyes and gathering her robe and a change of clothes for the day, she whispered to herself, "Men," before heading to the showers to properly wake up.
~ ^ ~ A/N: Ah... and there you have it.. ten lovely pages on MS Word... hmm.. so tell me what you think about the first chapter, oh yeah, and it's non- beta'ed cause I wanted to get it up sooner, so I might update with minor changes from my wonderful friend who spends time with me thinking up these half brained schemes.. Ok.. so reviewing would be greatly appreciated..
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, he and all the other characters are owned by the lovely J.K. Rowling...
~ ^ ~
I like to stay up late, spend hours on the phone.
Hanging out with all my friends and never being at home.
I'm impolite and I make fun of everyone.
I'm immature but I will stay this way forever.
Until the day I die, I promise I won't change,
So you better give up.
I don't wanna be told to grow up.
And I don't wanna change,
I just wanna have fun.
I don't wanna be told to grow up.
And I don't wanna change,
So you better give up.
No I don't wanna change,
So you better give up.
Cause I'm not gonna change,
I don't wanna grow up.
- "Grow Up" by Simple Plan
'Here we go,' thought a tall brunette as she made her way down an unfamiliar corridor. Her eyes were an unclear misty green, she was quite unsure of herself at this time. She had passed many moving portraits and nodded and smiling at her acknowledging her presence. She followed the directions given to her earlier and was now in front of a set of rather large wooden doors. She sighed as she looked up at them. "Here goes nothing," she said taking her first strides towards the doors.
"You might want to wait," a thick accented voice from the shadows told her.
Rachel stopped and turned towards the source of the voice smiling, "And why would I do that?"
"I don't know," the figure began to come closer. "It just might do you better if Dumbledore announced your arrival first." Then she saw him, he was tall and built, with short brown hair and shining brown eyes, along with luscious lips, which were smiling slightly at her.
"Thanks," Rachel replied leaning back on her right hip, and allowing her left hand to rest a top the other. She stuck out her right hand and introduced herself; "I'm Rachel Rivers, the new girl. I just transferred from Santa Barbara Academy in California," she laughed shaking her head from side to side mimicking their new governor.
"Oliver Wood," he said shaking her hand tightly. He surveyed the girl in front of him, she had straight light brown hair with some blonde highlights, and her new school uniform fit quite nicely, in all of the right places. Her robe hung open in the front to reveal a tight white button down shirt, and gray skirt that would make most of these boys drool. White knee socks covered her toned legs, and a pair of black Converse classic high tops, which clashed terribly with the schoolgirl outfit. Oliver continued, "I'm a substitute Professor until Madam Hooch, the normal flying instructor returns. I play for Puddlemere United, but I'm on leave to help out and old friend."
"Puddlemere eh?" she smiled retrieving her hand. Her eyes shone an icy bright blue; "I don't really follow pro quidditch. I'd rather be playing than watching someone else." Rachel could now start to hear the murmurs behind the doors quite down and one voice could be heard above all of the others, she turned her head slightly to get a better listen.
Oliver laughed a bit, "you play?"
Rachel turned her head sharply, "Yeah, I play," she glared her eyes which turned a slight bit grayer.
He smiled brightly, "which position do you fancy?"
She took a step closer to him saying, "I 'fancy' many different
positions," she replied smirking but then returned to glare. "But I happen to be the best Chaser on the West Coast," her eyes burning into his. "How about you?"
He blushed slightly, but he had set himself up for that one, she laughed and putting a finger to his lips, he signaled for her to quiet down he smiled at her lightly and leaned down closer to her ear, "I'm a Keeper," her told her.
She smiled playfully behind her dark eyes and whispered back, "that you are."
He raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to her face, he could feel her breath on his neck and her hair smelt like grapes. His stomach did a flip- flop and he heard Dumbledore's vioce loudly behind the doors.
"..And we have a new student joining us at Hogwarts; she's just transferred from Santa Barbara Academy in California. I'd like you all to welcome Ms. Rachel Rivers."
Oliver jumped back from her and quickly into the shadows, "That's your-"
"Cue, I know," she nodded turning away from him and pushing on the heavy doors. They opened automatically to reveal a large room with five long tables. Four of them on the floor and one at the front of the hall overseeing them all. At the head table, which she recognized to be the Professor's table, she saw one empty seat, 'I guess that one's for Oliver.' She sighed walking to the front where there was an old hat sitting on a stool. One female professor got up and walked down to her, she began to reach for the hat when it sung out.
"You've arrived later that we'd hoped before,
I know I shouldn't say, but this bit should be told,
The Quidditch Queen is here, you'll see!
And her King not far behind.
When the forest meets the water, great things will come to be,
But the love between two opposites will conquer what elements can't."
Rachel's mouth opened slightly as her eyes widened at the hat sitting infront of her. The professor looked annoyed, but more confused than anything.
"Rachel Rivers," she said removing the hat from the stool and motioning for her to sit.
Rachel obeyed and sat down; the old hat was then placed on her head. She heard a buzzing sound by her ears and then heard that voice again.
"Hmm, this is quite interesting. Qualities of all the houses. Friendless of a Hufflepuff, the intelligence of a Ravenclaw, the bravery of a Gryffindor, and a relative in Slytherin. But where should you go?"
Rachel sighed a whisper, "Where ever I am needed most."
"Ahh, a Queen that follows her King. All right then, GRYFFINDOR!!"
The hat was removed from Rachel's head and one of the tables jumped into rejoicing. The other tables were clapping politely except for one off to the side. She walked down the stairs and joined the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to a redheaded boy and across from her a bushy haired girl with her nose in a book. She caught a pair of emerald green eyes smiling at her. She looked over to a messy black-haired boy sitting across from the redhead. She beamed back, her baby blues shining brighter.
Dumbledore, who applauded at her sorting, again stood up and began to speak again. "Now that that has been completed, now let me introduce a substitute professor."
The bushy-haired girl looked up at this.
"Since Madam Hooch is on leave for the time being, I would like to introduce you to the current flying instructor, Professor Wood," Dumbledore said raising his hand towards the door.
The doors opened, and everyone turned. Oliver Wood walked confidently into the Great Hall, it had been awhile since he had been there, and he tried not to be too mesmerized by its enchanted ceiling. So instead he looked towards the old Gryffindor table. He spotted Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Rachel. Along with someone who appeared to be Hermione Granger.
While walking past the four, he smiled widely at his old school mates, and winked at Rachel.
Rolling her eyes in disgust as Hermione did the same, they both turned their attention back to Dumbledore. Harry and Ron both gave each other a look at the two girls' reactions and they tried ignoring the rests of the girls' babble on how cute Oliver was.
Oliver took his seat at the Professor's table and Dumbledore announced loudly, "And there is one more matter to address, that this weekend will be a Hogsmeade weekend, so please sign up in your common rooms this evening and enjoy yourselves. Now let the feast begin!"
The food magically appeared on platters in front of them. Rachel eyed the new food and began to put it on her plate as Ron shoveled it in his mouth. Rachel gave him a disgusted glance as he stuffed his face.
"Umm... dude, you might want to swallow before you choke, okay?" she said turning to her own plate.
Ron wiped his mouth on his sleeve and stuck out his hand. "Thanks, I'm Ron, Ron Weasley."
"Hi Ron," she said shaking his hand.
"That's Harry," he said pointing to the black haired boy with a chicken leg.
She smiled and shook his hand with a shy 'Hello' she looked back to Ron.
"And that's Hermione," acknowledging the girl across from her.
"Hello," she said shaking the girl's hand.
"Are you going to eat that?" Ron asked pointing at Rachel's potatoes.
She looked at him bemused. "If you lay one fork by my plate Ronald Weasley, I'll stab you with mine," she said before digging into her own plate.
He stared at her with wide scared eyes. He swallowed his food with a gulp.
Rachel laughed and putting a hand on his, "Ron, I was joking. But keep away from my potatoes," she giggled.
Harry chuckled at the small joke and looked over to Oliver. He seemed, different, he seemed dazed, but he was now staring at someone. Harry looked at his old quidditch captain confused and tried to follow his gaze but he looked down at his food and continued eating rather quickly. Shrugging at the Oliver's odd behavior, he continued eating and vaguely listening to Ron and Hermione's argument over wizard's chess. Rachel seemed to be taking a neutral stance in the discussion and was staring at the fruit bowl with her right elbow propped up on the table and her mouth in her hand. "Are you all right?" Harry asked her.
She jumped out of her daze and looking around to see that the Great Hall was mostly cleared out, she looked over to him, "Yeah, I'm fine," she yawned, "just a little tired I guess. Must be the jet lag."
Ron who had finished his argument with Hermione looked at her questioningly, "What's jet lag?"
Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes, Rachel gave a slight laugh as she stretched and said to Ron, "It's a Muggle thing."
Ron who shrugged in return looked at Harry who was smiling at Rachel. Hermione simply got up and started to walk away.
"Hey," Ron started, "where are you going?"
Harry rolled his eyes at the obvious question.
"To the Library," she replied not turning around.
Rachel watched her leave then turned when she heard her name being called.
"Rachel, would you mind coming over here please?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Sure Professor," she said getting up, turning back to the boys she said, "you two go on without me."
"But you don't know your way to the common room," Ron began.
She stopped and said jokingly, "Oh, I'm sure I'll find my way, and if I'm not back by dawn, send a search party," she kept towards the Headmaster. 'I wonder what's up?' she thought. As she approached him, walking smiling brightly, "You needed something Professor?" she asked.
"Please Rachel," he said. "Call me Dumbledore." She nodded her head at his wish and listened again. "I just wanted to remind you, that if you should have anymore nightmares, that you should come and speak to me. If you need help finding my office, you may ask one of your new friends, they make it a habit of seeing me when good advice is needed," he smiled down at her over his crescent moon spectacles.
"Sure Dumbledore," she replied. "But do you think that I could get a map so I can find my new room?" she asked with a slight laugh.
"Nonsense," he stated. "I'm sure Professor Wood would not mind showing you the way, considering it was his old dormitories," the old man said with a twinkle in his eyes.
As this was said Oliver Wood looked up. 'Huh? What's going on?' He thought.
"Professor Wood," Dumbledore called.
Oliver stood up and walked over to where Dumbledore and Rachel were. "Yes Dumbledore?" he asked.
"Would you mind escorting Ms. Rivers to the Gryffindor dormitories seeing as it is her first time here?"
"Not at all, sir," he smiled at Albus and turned to Rachel. "Right this way," he turned and led her out of the door. They walked down the corridor and over to a bright stone room with hundreds of staircases above and below them. "This ways the fastest, but watch out," he started.
"Why?" she asked following him onto one of the staircases.
"Cause the staircases like to change," he pointed above them to the moving staircases.
She looked up and continued walking slowly. "Whoa, that's so cool." As they were about halfway up their current set, it detached itself from its platform and moved towards a wall. "Yikes!" Rachel exclaimed grabbing onto the railing and wrapping her arms around the banister.
Oliver laughed slightly, remembering when he got caught on the moving stairs.
She glared at him, "What's so funny?" still hanging on for dear life.
"This is just comical that's all," he replied.
"Yeah," she mumbled. "Real Garfield material."
As the staircase stopped Rachel bolted up the rest of the way taking her steps two by two and passing Oliver. "Hey!" he shouted as she nearly bowled him over.
"Sorry," she said at the top of the stairs turning around, "I'm not getting stuck on that joy ride again." She stated while pointed to the stairs.
When Oliver reached the top, he looked around and collected his bearings. "Umm.. we have to take a slight detour."
"Well that sucks," Rachel said following him down a few corridors. As the made a few lefts and a few rights and up a few stairs Oliver said, "It's just around this corner," looking back at her. He rounded the corner and WHAM!!
Oliver Wood walked straight into a wall. Rachel wasn't even going to trying to contain herself. Upon his collision she burst out laughing and began clutching her sides Oliver fell onto his butt and started rubbing his head. Rachel crossed her legs and fell down into a sitting position on the floor still holding her stomach in a fit of giggles.
"That wasn't funny," Oliver stated.
She stopped laughing and looked at him, "Oh yes it was!" She started laughing again. "You were all like, 'It's right around this corner!' BAM!!!" Then it started all again.
"I guess it was kinda funny.." he started standing up.
"Pshh! You don't know the half of it!" she almost fell over backwards but Oliver came over.
"Okay, play time's over, let's get you to the Common Room," he said walking over to her and pulling her up by her hand.
He lead her back a few turns and went straight, then continued around a few more corridors until the reached a flight of stairs.
Rachel turned to him and smiled playfully, "Race you there?"
He smiled back and said "You're on. But wait, what do I get when I win?"
"When you win? Wood, if you win you get bragging rights, K?"
"Alright," he said looking at her, then down to his hand, which was still holding hers. She pulled away quickly and he blushed. "Sorry," he mumbled.
"Don't be," she smiled.
He gave her that award winning Quidditch smile, "Let's go."
Then both stood next to each other in a racing position. "Oh my mark," Rachel started. "Get set," and she took off up the stairs.
"Hey!! Not fair!" Oliver shouted back.
"Go!!" she laughed taking the steps two, three at a time, as Oliver gaining on her.
She was laughing the entire way and as she got to the top of the stairs and onto the flat corridor she turned around and started running backwards. "Looks like I get bragging righ-!!" she exclaimed but then fell very ungracefully on her backside as she missed that there were three more stairs before the Fat Lady's portrait.
As soon as she hit the ground she started laughing and Oliver ran right past her. "Hey!" she said rolling over.
"What?" he stopped smiling wildly at her.
"Weren't you going to stop and see if I was okay?" she said sitting up.
Oliver stood there in mock-thought. "Umm, no," he replied playfully.
Rachel gave him a look and stood up. She dusted off her robes and walked over to Oliver. She punched him playfully in the shoulder.
"Hey," he said rubbing his arm. She stuck her tongue at him. "Oh that's real mature," he said back.
"Thank you," she replied walking over to the Fat Lady in a pink dress who asked, "Password?"
"Password?" Rachel said incredulously. "All we had to do was remember a pattern," she pouted. Turning to Oliver she asked, "Care to share?"
He thought for a bit, "Nope."
"And why not?" she asked leaning on her right hip.
"Cause you were being mean," he said.
"Me? Mean?" she asked in mock horror, "Never! C'mon man, give me detention or whatever, take away privileges, just give me the stinkin' password."
He laughed slightly crossing his arms and leaning sideways on the wall. "You can wait," he smiled widely.
"Urrghh," she groaned and slid down the wall and sat on the floor. "Why won't you just give me the password?" she asked losing her patience rather quickly.
Oliver looked down at her, "You want the truth?"
She looked up at him angerly, "As opposed to a lie? Please!"
"They never told it to me," he said rather pathetically.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait," Rachel said standing up. "You mean to tell me, that Dumbledore sent you to show me where the Gryffindor Commons are, and you didn't even ask for the password before we left?!?"
"I thought you knew it!" he accused.
"But I'm the New Girl!! I'm supposed to be lost for the first week anyway!" she shouted back.
"Look yelling isn't getting us anywhere. Maybe you should just come and stay in my room tonight.." he trailed off in thought.
She looked up at him, "As good as that sounds, do you know how much trouble we could get in?!?"
"Sorry! It was just a suggestion!"
He plopped down on the floor beside the portrait and she sat down near him. He sighed loudly and she shivered a little. "Cold?" he asked.
"Yeah," she snapped.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Don't be, I snapped at you," she said.
"It's okay," he replied taking off his cloak.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Here," he handed it to her. "You should wear my cloak."
"No," she said moving closer to him, "then you'll freeze. We'll share it."
"Okay," he mumbled as he placed the cloak over both of them. Rachel yawned and placed her head on his shoulder. "Here," Oliver said, wrapping his arm around her back and pulling her closer. "Better?" he asked.
"Much," she whispered, dozing off on his shoulder. He rested his head against the wall and thought, 'You're not tired. Yep, only resting your eyes.' Soon Oliver Wood was fast asleep.
~ ^ ~ Later, around one o'clock. ~ ^ ~
"Shh," a voice said to another as the slowly crept up the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room. They heard a light snoring as the Fat Lady came into view, but what surprised them were the two figures sleeping peacefully near the portrait. The two figures recognized to be Oliver Wood and Rachel Rivers.
"Look at that, Harry. Those two look so... soo..." he trailed off.
"Cute?" Harry said removing the Invisibility Cloak from around the two of them.
"Yeah," Ron wondered. "Should we wake them?"
"Yeah, Ron. Cause if we don't and someone else does, then they'll have a lot of explaining to do. Quick, take the cloak inside."
Ron walked up and whispered the password to the sleeping Fat Lady, "Starry Nights." The down swung open to reveal a dim common room. He snuck in and took the cloak up to the 6th year boys' dorms and placed it on Harry's bed.
Meanwhile, Harry walked over to the sleeping couple and poked Oliver on the shoulder. "Oliver.. Oliver, wake up," he whispered.
The flying instructor's eyes blinked open and he looked around stretching. "Uhh, what time is it?" Then he noticed the sleeping girl beside him and stopped all movements to prevent waking her.
"It's around one o'clock in the morning, I heard snoring and it woke me up."
"Ah.." Oliver whispered standing up and picking Rachel up and carrying her in his arms. Harry led him into the commons and up to the 6th year girl's room, where he opened the door for her and found her bed. Oliver placed her down on it and covered her up, laying his cloak by her chair, he took out some of Hermione's ink and parchment and borrowed a quill and scribbled a note down for Rachel, leaving it by her bedside.
Oliver thanked Harry and headed out into the corridors yawning. When he reached his room, he removed his shirt and shoes and fell on the bed in a deep sleep.
~ ^ ~ The next morning. ~ ^ ~
Rachel woke when the sun was shining brightly into her eyes. She squirmed under the covers and rolled over. 'Wait, covers??' She thought and shot upright looking around, she was in a four poster bed with gold and scarlet all around her. She stared amazed for a bit then looked over to see her trunk at the end of her bed and a cloak and a parchment by her bed. She picked it up and smelt it, recognizing it as Oliver's and picking up the parchment reading it to herself.
Rachel,
If you were wondering, the password is 'Starry Nights'.
Oliver
She sighed rolling her eyes and gathering her robe and a change of clothes for the day, she whispered to herself, "Men," before heading to the showers to properly wake up.
~ ^ ~ A/N: Ah... and there you have it.. ten lovely pages on MS Word... hmm.. so tell me what you think about the first chapter, oh yeah, and it's non- beta'ed cause I wanted to get it up sooner, so I might update with minor changes from my wonderful friend who spends time with me thinking up these half brained schemes.. Ok.. so reviewing would be greatly appreciated..