Disclaimer: I am in no way associated professionally with J.K. Rowling or her works.
Author's Note: This is my first attempt at any semblance of a romance fic. I don't usually write or read them, but I really liked G*Ness' O/H stories, so I decided to give it a whirl. This will probably start out slow, and may end predictably. If you don't like this, tell me, but please have the courtesy of being polite about it. Thank you.
Also, Italics = thought.
Hermione Granger sat in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, studying for her upcoming Charms test. There was a Quidditch game coming up, and against Slytherin, and the team was holding a late-night strategy workshop. Actually Oliver Wood was holding the workshop. The rest of the team was nodding off or fooling around. Harry had foolishly told the Weasley twins and Ron how to make paper airplanes and now they had their wands out and were zooming the airplanes through the air using magic. Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet were dozing and Angelina Johnson was pretending to be engrossed in what Oliver was saying, but there was an almost-comatose look on her face.
An airplane shot through the air as one of the Weasley brothers – probably Ron and his broken wand – lost control of their plane. "Oliver, look out!" Ron yelped as the plane swerved towards his head. Oliver looked up and, displaying the reflexes that made him a good Keeper, snatched the airplane in mid-air.
"Seriously," Oliver sounded more than a little ticked off, "Quit goofing off. We can't lose tomorrow's game."
"Relax Oliver, we know." Fred waved his hand at the Keeper. "We'll win."
Oliver sighed. "I'm glad you are so certain about that."
"Fine," George plopped down on the floor. "Instruct us, O Captain Gryffindor."
Oliver shot him a glare and George subsided into silence. The others either woke up or took a seat and actually listened to Oliver talk.
In her corner, Hermione lifted her head from her book and paper to glance at the team assembled in a semi-circle around Oliver. Sometimes she wished she had the free time – and the guts – to try and play Quidditch, but her strong point was academics. Hermione looked the team over, and her mind unconsciously noted her appraisal. Immediately, she skipped over Ron. He's not a Quidditch player, but maybe when Oliver graduates… her mind said. The three Chasers, Katie, Alicia and Angelica, were blinking sleepily. They're pretty good. And they're girls. Another advantage Gryffindor has over the others. They don't have enough girls on their teams. Fred and George were only half-listening to Oliver. Having heard these frets and game plans before, they were fiddling with their paper airplanes. The Weasley twins. Hermione smiled mentally. It's a wonder Oliver can get them to listen to him at all, troublemakers that they are. Harry was paying attention to Oliver, if only for politeness' sake. Well, Harry certainly has his work cut out for him. Being Seeker and all, and having to deal with Snape and the whole You-Know-Who thing. As soon as her mind and eyes hit Oliver, Hermione felt an unbidden blush spread over her face and she brought her textbook up to hide her face.
Reaching one hand up to her cheek, she felt it flare beneath her fingertips. Why did this always happen to her when she looked at him? I mean, I don't like him…right? Hermione thought. She sneaked another look at the Quidditch captain and her face flamed again. Okay, maybe he's cute. Just a little. Yeah, Oliver Wood can be cute, but I don't have to like him…right? Oh God, why does this happen to me?
Hermione forced herself to look through Oliver as if he weren't there. Yeah, he's a good Keeper, a very good Keeper. And he's nice, and chivalrous, and – I guess – he's good-looking, and he has a nice smile, and – oh no, I do like him. She sighed to herself, wanting to be a little disgusted that she – Hermione Granger, student of the year – had a crush on someone. Even someone as cute as Oliver. Great, here I go again; gushing over him like some little girl over a puppy.
Trying to focus on something besides Oliver, who was currently going into his closing speech, seeming to have finally noticed that his team was practically asleep, Hermione closed her book and gathered up her scrolls, all too ready to turn in for the night. As she made her way to the stairs going to the girl's dormitory, the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Ron stood up, most of them yawning. Alicia, Katie and Angelica passed her with a sleepy wave. Ron and Harry murmured something that resembled 'Good night' as they staggered up the stairs on the opposite side of the room.
"Good night, Hermione." Oliver said softly. Did he just say something to me? Hermione felt the blush spread over her face again and muttered "Good night" in reply before running up the stairs, sure that he had seen her red face. She left behind a slightly confused, but equally embarrassed Oliver Wood.