September 12, Tuesday, second week of Hogwarts—


"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." -E.M. Forster


"Are your hands bloody as well?" Fred asked tiredly, as the Gryffindor Quidditch team walked sluggishly to the locker rooms.

Arianna nodded, and held up her hands to show the blisters and calluses she sported. Fred's hand didn't look much better.

"Great practice today, guys!" James said happily as he slapped Fred's back. "I'm sure we'll win against Slytherin in the first game!"

They had just learned that the first game of the season would be Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. This year the game would be especially interesting since Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy were the co-captains.

"It'll be especially gruesome," Fred commented lightly to Arianna, who cringed internally. She remembered her first game against the Slytherin team in her second year...She got so beat-up up because of her small size.

"I wonder how James deals with playing Albus during Quidditch games..." Lily voiced thoughtfully as she came up beside Arianna.

"Oh, he and Albus always avoid each other around that time. They haven't gotten into a fight over it...yet," Fred clarified while smiling a bit—still cradling his weak hands delicately.

"Makes sense," Lily laughed lightly as the entered the chilly locker rooms. She and Arianna both went to the girl's side and changed quickly.

"I heard the Slytherin team is always harsher on the girls since they don't have many girl players either..." Lily said, as she untied her Chaser pads.

"My first game against the Slytherin's was pretty rough," Arianna admitted as she threw on a worn tank top and comfy sweats. "But you'll be fine. You're a quick chaser."

Lily smiled and replied, "I guess. Plus I don't think Albus will let them hassle me too badly..."

The two girls talked for a while longer before Lily left Arianna to wrap her bloody hands.

"You girls decent?" yelled James as he approached the girl's side of the locker rooms.

"Yes."

James came in holding a pair of Chaser gloves and his brown eyes landed on Arianna. His hair was wet and slick having just stepped out of the shower.

"Has Lily left?"

Arianna just nodded as she tried securing a bandage around her hand. Shouldn't there be some kind of spell for this?

"Here let me do that..." James said softly as he came to straddle the bench that Arianna was sitting on. Arianna could smell something musky as he leaned in towards her. Ari kind of liked it. Meanwhile, James gently took her hand as if it was a fragile piece of glass. For a moment he inspected her bloody hands and her poorly wrapped bandage.

"Do you have any essence of Murtlap?" James asked.

Arianna shook her head no.

"Alright, just wait here. I have some in my locker," he assured, as he got up and jogged to get in from his locker.

He came back a moment later and took her hand once more. Goosebumps popped up along Arianna's forearm. It wasn't even that cold of a day...

"This might sting," he cautioned, as he carefully squeezed a couple of drops onto her wounded palm.

Her hand burned painfully and she cringed as James skillfully wrapped a new bandage around her hand. He tightened it securely, and glanced at Arianna when he was done—still cradling her hand tenderly.

"I think we're due for some new bats," said James while smiling genuinely. It wasn't his usual smirk—but a genuine grin that took up his whole face.

Arianna smiled back briefly and softly said, "Thank you."

She was starting to slowly take her hand away when James tightened his hold on her and said, "By the way Piff, nice backhand out there. You've improved a lot."

Arianna blushed, and got up to leave—feeling much too flustered.

She bid James goodbye, and practically ran out of the locker rooms, all the time wondering how a guy like James Potter could affect her so much.


"There you are!" Claire exclaimed jumping up from her spot on Olivia's bed. "You have to talk to Olivia," Claire whispered as she approached Arianna, "she won't tell me what's wrong..."

Arianna glanced at Olivia who was chewing halfheartedly on a chocolate wand that Claire had probably given her (Claire had a whole stash that was hidden in her trunk).

"Hey Liv," Arianna greeted quietly as she approached the sullen girl—ready to slowly broach her cautiously.

It seemed that Claire was just as impatient as usual...

"All right, this is getting ridiculous. Olivia what the hell is going on? Why are you so sad and moody?" Claire asked bluntly, plopping down onto her bed, and turning an accusing blue eye on Olivia.

"Claire!" Arianna reprimanded.

Olivia glanced over at Claire before resuming her brooding gaze at the ceiling.

Claire kept staring at her, before exhaling annoyed.

"Merlin, you're even quieter than Arianna. What's eating you, Liv?" Claire asked in a softer voice, approaching Olivia's bed.

Olivia pulled at her earlobes nervously before handing Claire a tattered letter. Arianna read the letter over Claire's shoulder.

Dear Olivia,

Hi honey, I hope you're doing well, and I hope you're having fun at Hogwarts. How have you been? How are Claire and Arianna? Make sure to invite them over this Christmas, because that's when the wedding is.
I know that it's only been half a year, but I feel that Johnny is the right guy for me. He understands me like no one else, and he gets along great with both you and me. I hope your not mad or angry that I'm remarrying again, but I think it will work this time.
After all don't they say third time is the charm?

Anyways I love you, and I hope you write back,
Mum

Claire slowly put the letter down and stared at Olivia concernedly.

"So is this why you're upset?" Claire asked hesitantly.

Olivia just looked at her sadly, and slowly got up into a sitting position.

"I liked it when she was single," Olivia explained quietly, "during the summer we did things together. She wasn't canceling our plans because of some guy...and now, she's remarrying again...Who knows how long she'll stay in this marriage? I don't want to watch the whole process of her getting married and getting divorced again..."

"Hey, it'll be okay," Claire reassured as Arianna rubbed Olivia's back comfortingly. "Maybe your mom actually found the right guy this time..."

Olivia snorted, "And you know what else? Johnny—my mum's fiancé—has a son: same age as us, who goes to Durmstrang. It's going to be so weird...When I go home for the break it means leaving behind the magic world and living in our muggle world again. Being a regular muggle-born again...but that will all be gone now...it'll make things different."

"It won't be that bad...you won't even have to see them that much because you'll be in Hogwarts," Arianna reminded soothingly.

"You'll come with me right?" Olivia asked suddenly, "You'll come to the wedding during Christmas Break?"

"Of course."

"We wouldn't miss it for anything."

"Thanks," Olivia said gratefully, "and I'm sorry for being so...I just needed some time alone."

"Hey, it's all in the past now," Arianna stated while leaning in to hug Olivia.


A/N: I realize that this is a very short chapter but I didn't make it longer for two reasons: 1) I wanted to meet my week mark 2) I felt like this was a good place to end the chapter. Trust me there will be a LOT going on in the next two chapters. Oh I can hardly wait, which means that you will definitely be seeing an update soon enough.
Other than that, let me know your thoughts! What do you think about Olivia's secret? What do you think about Quidditch so far? More James/Arianna fluff? More Fred/Olivia fluff? Both? Well you'll be getting a good amount of both, and some drama thrown in there for a good measure.
Coming up next: Fluffy potion's class, potential dates, and even a bet gone wrong...

Review Challenge: What was the last song you listened to? Who was the last person you talked to in person? What's your opinion on Pixar's upcoming movie: Brave? (Because I'm so dang excited! I loved the trailer! Go watch it if you haven't)

Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Pickles