A/N: Thanks for taking the time to read this. Obviously, all characters mentioned (except for Elva and "the girl") are the property of J.K. Rowling, or whoever owns them, although I wish I did own Oliver.
You see people everyday. Hundreds or maybe even thousands of people, to be exact, but that's really not the point. The point is that, how many of those people do you expect to ever see again? None, right? Well, maybe your chances are greater if you live in such a small community, like the wizarding community, but, even so, your chances are still only a little bit better. A chance meeting and a chance reunion were all it took for two young wizards to fall in love. Our story begins in Diagon Alley.
Oliver Wood shuffled along the streets of Diagon Alley, casting looks, with his brown eyes, from side to side as he looked at the displays of owls and the displays in windows all around him. For him, it was just another routine trip before he headed back to school, he really did enjoy going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He loved playing Quidditch for Gryffindor and he loved it even more, now that he had been made captain of the team. He just didn't enjoy the trips to Diagon Alley with his mother.
He looked over at his mother, dressed in her high-fashioned wizard's clothes. This morning, Oliver even heard he say to herself while she was getting ready, "Oh! Even Narcissa Malfoy would envy me!". That was definitely not a possibility. Oliver had only met Narcissa, wife of Lucius, once at the Quidditch World Cup a few years back. Narcissa was tall, blonde, shapely, and beautiful. His mother, Elva, was short, brunette, fat, and quickly loosing her beauty. Maybe one day before Oliver was born, she was thin and beautiful, but now she wasn't.
Oliver wasn't one to brag about his family's fianacial status, but if asked, he would say that his family was wealthy and did have somewhat of a place the hierarchy of the wizarding families. After all, his father was a personal advisor to Minister Fudge. While we're speaking about Oliver's father, I think it's time that we mention something about him. Oliver's father was impressed by many things about him, but he was impressed by one thing in particular and that was the fact that Oliver didn't care about the social standing of the family. On the other hand, his mother most certainly did. Whenever they went into Diagon Alley, or anywhere in the wizarding world for that matter, his mother always had to be seen spending. Then there was the constant stopping to talk to her so-called friends. Yeah, sure. They gossiped about her, she would gossip about them ten time worse, her "friends" would find out, gossip about her, and the cycle continued on and on. Then there was the constant attempts to find Oliver a girlfriend.
Which, at this particular moment, was what she was doing now. He was being introduced to some girl named Amanda, or was it Allison? Oliver couldn't remember. All he knew about this girl was that she was in Hufflepuff, and judging from her looks, she seemed like a nice, sweet girl, but she just didn't seem like Oliver's type. After that conversation was over, the walked over to the window of the broomstore.
"Oh, look, Ollie! The Nimbus 2000's are finally out! Would ya like one?" his mom asked, pointing at the display.
"Mom, I have a broom at home," Oliver reminded her.
"But, dear, you need a new one," his mom began, "that other one you have is so old"
"I just got it last year," Oliver laughed.
"Nonsense, Ollie, I'm getting you this one!" his mother said, heading into the shop.
"Mom!" Oliver called out. "I don't want or need one, the one I have is perfectly fine."
At this, Oliver's mother became very angry. His mother drew very close to him, grabbed his coller, and pulled him down to her height. She spoke in a very angry, but soft voice, "Oliver Matthew Wood," Wood hated when his mother used his full name. "As a part of this family, you must have the best. We all must have the best. We must constantly be, oh what is that muggle term? 'Keep up with the Johnsons'? You cannot go around on the Quidditch pitch with an old broom, I will not have it! And I'm certain that your father would not allow it."
"It's just a broomstick, mother"
"Just a br-just a broomstick! What next Oliver? Next, it'll be just a shirt. Then, just a girlfriend. Then, just a small wedding. Then, just a house! Oliver Matthew Wood, I will not tolerate it!"
Then, there was a pause, "I don't need to take this"
And with that, Oliver turned and went into the robes shop. He really didn't need any robes. He, obviously, needed to get away from his mother. He only pretended to look at Gryffindor robes and browse around.
"Can I help you?" asked a voice behind him.
Oliver turned around and said, "Um, no, thanks, just looking around"
"Oh, okay," the girl said. Oliver took a good look at her. Her almost transparent blue eyes perfectly complimented her black hair and porcelin skin. He lips were red, a beautiful shade of red that Oliver had never seen before. He was intrigued by this girl. She laughed awkwardly and looked down at the floor as Olive came out of his daze.
"Are you sure I can't help you?" the girl asked.
"No, I'm just . ."
"Hiding from your mother?" she asked, looking out the window, laughing.
"How did you . ."
She laughed, "I'm sure all of Diagon Alley heard Oliver Matthew Wood fighting with his mother"
"Yeah," he said, looking out the window, "Speaking of the devil."
The bell above the door of the shop rang as Wood's mother entered. She headed over to Oliver.
"We're going Oliver"
Oliver turned to leave, "Good-bye, nice to have met you"
"I hope to see you sometime soon, Oliver," the girl replied.
He doubted that they would ever see one another, but he had no idea what life had in store for him over the course of the next year.