Oliver was at his desk, marking a quiz the first years had done the previous day, when Harry knocked on the door.
"Wood?" he said, "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course." he replied, motioning to the seat in front of him, "What would you like?"
"It's about Ginny."
Oliver felt himself stiffen and hoped Harry hadn't noticed. He nodded to show he was listening and Harry continued.
"It's just, she had gone to find you a few days ago to see if you would coach her again." he explained, "But when she came back she looked kind of upset and she said you wouldn't do it. Why won't you?"
""Well... um..." Oliver stalled, unsure of what to say, "The other teams were starting to talk. They felt Gryffindor would have an unfair advantage." he told him, hoping it sounded believable enough.
Harry nodded and Oliver released the breath he had apparently been holding.
"I guess I can see how they feel." Harry said.
"Look, don't worry about Ginny. She's a great chaser, she won't have a problem making the team. Kali already feels like she'll get along great with the rest of the team."
"Kali?"
"Oh, the Harpies coach."
Harry looked confused, "When did she meet her?"
"Oh- erm- she didn't. Just from what I've told her in my letters." he answered smoothly.
"Oh." Harry said, "Well I'm sorry I interrupted you. I should probably leave."
"Are we okay, Harry?" Oliver asked before he could stand.
"What do you mean?"
"I know you and Ginny were have problems and I know it was partly because of me."
"Yeah, look, I'm sorry about that. I know now that you were just trying to help her get a position on the Harpies." Harry admitted, "I guess it just bothered me how often you guys were together. Now that I think about it I realize how stupid I was. I had you as a coach before, I know how hard you practice. You would have had us out there everyday if you had your way."
Oliver grinned, "I tried once, to book the pitch for a whole week. McGonagall wouldn't let me."
"My point exactly." Harry said with a laugh, "So to answer your question, yeah, we're good."
"Glad to hear it."
"I'll see you tomorrow." Harry said before getting up to leave, "And you're sure you don't want to coach Ginny?"
"It's not that I don't want to. It's just not fair to the other teams."
Harry nodded and left the room.
The day of the game drew closer and closer until finally it arrived. Oliver climbed to the top box, reserved for the Harpies, and sat next to Kali.
"How is she?" Kali asked.
"Who? Ginny?" Oliver replied.
"No, Mother Nature." She said with a roll of her eyes, "Of course Ginny!"
"I don't know, I didn't talk to her."
"Okay, well how was she feeling about the game yesterday? Is she nervous?"
"I don't know, probably a bit, I didn't talk to her."
"When's the last time you did talk to her?"
Oliver thought back, "Last week, she was having trouble with silent spells."
"I thought you were coaching her." Kali said.
"I was but we stopped."
"Look, I didn't drag my team all the way to Hogwarts to watch some school game. I came her to see how she played. I was under the impression you were going to train her, I don't want to waste my time."
"You won't waste your time, I swear, she's great."
"Fine." She grumbled.
The game started and Ginny gained immediate possession of the quaffle and flew to the opposite end. He noticed Kali sit up straighter when she scored a goal in the first 2 minutes.
"And she's always like this?" Kali asked 45 minutes later after Ginny had scored her 9th goal.
Oliver nodded proudly, "Yep."
"She's amazing, she can pass, she can catch she can dodge bludgers and people and she can score. Damn. You know we were just looking for someone for our reserve team." she commented, "But she might just take over for Heidi(1). I wonder what Monica(2) will think about that?"
"She'll understand if she wants what's best for the team."
Kali nodded, "You're right, we play the better players, and she's obviously one of them. But I'll need to try her out with the team once the games finished."
"Of course."
The game ended 270 – 60 for Gryffindor.
"Are you hungry?" Oliver asked as they descended down the stairs.
"Starving."
Kali glanced at her team and they all nodded furiously, "I guess we are."
"Great, I think Ginny would like a little break and some food before you drill her." Oliver said with a smile, "I'm sure the Gryffindor's would love to have you at their table for lunch."
"Sounds perfect."
Oliver led them to the Gryffindor table and introduced the team to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Ginny greeted Kali as if this was their first time meeting and Kali followed suit.
"You play very well, Ginny." Kali told her.
"Thank you." Ginny replied, a blush staining her cheeks.
Oliver left them to eat at the staff table. Ginny was talking animatedly with Kali all throughout lunch. Once the team was finished they took her outside to do their own drills before making their decision.
More than 2 hours later, Kali finally approached him in his office.
"You're right, she's great." Kali told him, "She's on the team."
"Great, I knew you'd like her."
"Why aren't you practicing with her anymore, Wood?" she asked after a full minute of silence.
"I just didn't think she needed my help anymore."
"I'm not stupid, Wood. I know you better than that. There's always something that needs work. What happened at that party? Why did you leave so quickly. I've been to a lot of parties with you and you've never left without saying good-bye before."
Oliver sighed and led her into his room, shutting the door behind her.
"We kissed."
"You kiss her so you stop practicing?"
"Actually, she kissed me."
"So what!? You were mooning over her all evening at that party and she was obviously into you. I don't see the problem here."
"You don't see the – she's my student. She's my friends little sister and she's my other friends girlfriend." Oliver said for what felt like the millionth time, "Why doesn't anyone see anything wrong with that!?"
"It was just a kiss, Oliver. That's all."
"Well if I was around her much longer I know I would have wanted more than just a kiss." Kali's eyes widened.
"Oliver, I've known you for 5 years now. I know what you're like with women. Did you know for awhile there I thought you were gay?"
"What!? Why!?"
"Because you never go out with women! I've seen beautiful women throw themselves at you and you barely even give them a second glance." She explained, "You are a great Quidditch player because you know how to keep your head in the game. You don't let girlfriends get in the way of that because you don't have them."
"What are you getting at, Kali?"
"I'm saying, you obviously care about Ginny a lot to not be able to put Quidditch before her."
Oliver didn't say anything and looked away from her.
"And she obviously cares for you too." Kali continued.
"She is dating Harry Potter I'm not about to steal his girlfriend."
"It's her choice. If she wants to stay with him, she will, if she doesn't, she won't."
Oliver shook his head, "No, Harry's my friend, I won't date her even if she does break up with him."
"I think you're being really thick headed about all this." Kali told him angrily.
"Kali, I'm finished talking about this. I think it's time for you to leave."
"Fine I will. But you know I'm right and if you don't act soon, it'll be too late."
Oliver opened the door for her without replying.
AN
If you didn't figure it out:
1- Heidi's the chaser that's retiring
2 – Monica's the reserve chaser that would be taking over for Heidi
OK so I'm really not a big fan of this chapter but I had to get something out. Don't expect the chapter anytime soon... I'm moving to Scotland for a year next week so I have a lot to do before I leave and I won't have much time to write out another chapter. I will post as soon as I can though! Once I'm settled in and have internet again... my guess is I'll get another chapter up in about a month... hopefully. Don't worry though! It will get done! I'm having a lot of fun writing this fic and I know exactly where I want it to go! Anyways I'm going to watch Singin' in the Rain before I sleep :) (everyone should watch this movie! Greatest musical ever!)