The Rivalry

Chapter 9- Fall and Friends

Hogwarts Castle, 1989

Two weeks after the meeting in the Library Oliver was overjoyed to be training once again. It was the first week in October and the first match of the school year was only one month away. Grinning despite the dreary October weather outside Oliver grabbed his broomstick and made his way down to the Quidditch field to meet up with the rest of the team.

Mercy was waiting in her usual seat in the Library for Violet to join her. Over the past couple of weeks the two girls had become quite close. Not close enough that the Vampire felt that she could tell the other girl about her unusual lineage. But enough that Mercy had told her about her title and how she wanted to keep it quiet while she was at school. Violet had been understanding and in turn had shared information about her own family. Her Mother worked for the Ministry of Magic, her Father had died when Violet was a child. A victim of those who were loyal to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and did not like Sheridan Hawthorn's work in Defence against the Dark Arts. Their friendship had flourished to such an extent that even Marcus could find no reason to separate them. Even with Adrian Pucey following their every move the two girls had grown into close friends.

As Mercy looked up from the book she was reading she caught Pucey's eye for a moment before he looked away embarrassed at being caught. She had known from the start exactly what the Slytherin boy was up to, and exactly who had set him spying. But she didn't say anything. Instead she let Marcus stew in his distrust. Eventually he would get bored and concentrate on something else. Hopefully the impending Quidditch season would give him something else to concentrate on for a while.

Adrian looked away quickly as Marcellina turned to look at him. He hadn't told Marcus Flint that he feared the girls knew that they were being followed, but now he knew for sure. He had been as careful as he could about watching them, but neither girl was easily fooled. Unfortunately even though he knew that he had been caught in his stalking, he couldn't stop. Flint had made it very clear that he expected Adrian to stay close to his baby sister in case anything happened to her, and the first year didn't dare cross him. Besides he liked both Marcellina and her new friend Violet. From what he had seen they were both fiercely intelligent and beautiful as well.

They were like night and day the pair of them. Violet was tall and Blonde, her golden hair and tanned skin almost glowed and her green eyes glittered like bright emeralds. She looked like a movie star and yet she was quiet and studious, almost dangerous in her intelligence. Then there was Marcellina, as dark as night, with skin like moonlight, Otherworldly and untouchable. Even if he hadn't been told to watch her Adrian knew that he would have spent his time doing just that. If it hadn't been for her older brother, he probably would have gone after her by now.

Oliver couldn't help smiling as he blocked yet another attempt by the chasers to score. He had been on top form all morning and he was feeling that familiar euphoria from playing the greatest sport in the world. Zipping away from the bludgers as it came speeding towards him he laughed. This was what he lived for.

Having conferred with Violet, Mercy looked back across at where Adrian was sitting. Then together the two girls stood and made their way over to his table. As they came to stand in front of him Pucey raised the book he was pretending to read in an attempt to hide his face. Unfortunately for him all this did was make the girls laugh.

"Adrian. Put the book down."

The Slytherin boy reluctantly lowered the book to the table cringing. He had only just noticed as he put it down that the book was actually upside-down. He didn't want to look up at Marcellina to see what she wanted, but he didn't have much of a choice now.

"Hello Ladies, what can I do for you?"

He asked as innocently as he could. Violet snorted in disbelief, but the other girl nudged her with her elbow before speaking.

"I know you are following me Adrian, and I know why. If Marcus insists that you watch us, you might as well join us. It has to be better than sitting there all by yourself pretending to read 'The Many Uses of Unicorn Root'."

Adrian couldn't think of anything to say for a moment, and they were both just standing there looking at him, so he nodded awkwardly. Marcellina smiled at him as she pointed back towards the table they had just left.

"Come on then. We were just about to start our Potions homework."

With that the two girls went back to their original seat and Adrian had no choice but to pick up his books and join them until it was time for dinner.