Practice for the upcoming Quidditch tournament was going much better than last year's attempt, and Aquila was constantly being handed chocolate by her teammates. Oliver took her aside every night after dinner and had a hot chocolate with her, down in the kitchens. She was smiling and laughing more now, and Oliver couldn't help but smile back at her. Oliver's parents had started sending Aquila care packages of chocolate from their little Highland home. Aquila almost cried happy tears at the breakfast table when she'd opened the first one. She had to wait until later to tell Oliver, and he had never been more proud of his parents. He had mentioned it in passing to his parents in a letter, and their small kindness towards Aquila was the difference between life and death for her. While unpacking a bit more thoroughly, he discovered a thick muggle puzzle book at the bottom of his trunk with a fistful of pencils. How had he forgotten? Quidditch. The next night when they sat in the library together, before she packed up her books, he slid the book across to her, along with the pencils. Her smile had been worth every muggle penny in the world.
When the Halloween Hogsmeade weekend rolled around, Aquila was almost back to herself. She was little more tired and drawn than she usually would be, but she was strong, and exceptionally tough. If anyone could survive life-threatening Dementors, it was Aquila Valentine. The Quidditch team struck out together for Hogsmeade, without Harry, who didn't have permission to go to the town. They were flush with talk of how they were going to win the cup this year.
"Can't wait to cream Malfoy. We're gonna murder him. It's gonna be great." Oliver smirked at Fred's talk. He was in too good of a mood to admonish him for talk of murder. He knew every time that they didn't mean it, but he liked to wind them up.
"We'll do it for you Aquila. You've had the most shit from him." George put in. Oliver liked how the team had rallied around Aquila, and accepted her as part of the family immediately.
"What do you mean?" Oliver said, perhaps a little too quickly.
"Well, baby Malfoy is in love with our girl here, Oliver." Angelina said, a disgusted look on her face. Aquila groaned, clearly displeased that this was being brought up. Oliver felt a small spark of anger. Similar to how he felt when Percy was sniffing around the girl. This must be jealousy. He tried to clamp down on the feeling.
"In love with her?" Oliver looked at Aquila, feigning a smile. She looked into his eyes for a second longer than she should of, and she found herself blushing when she looked away, and Oliver found his heart hammering.
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"Excellent! Leaves us to tell the great romantic tale." Fred said, as they all trudged ahead together towards Hogsmeade. Oliver heard Aquila groan again.
"Once upon a time, a jumped little pureblood by the name of Malfoy, fell in love with a girl who punished him." George continued, in place of his brother.
"Because the dirty bugger has a Prefect kink."
"Some say his father wants him to marry another pureblood good and young." Fred said, in a conspiratorial tone. Oliver had to admit that the twins were good at telling a story.
"I'm not even a pureblood!" Aquila protested, becoming increasingly red in the face. Whether from the cold or from embarrassment, Oliver didn't know.
"He sends her love letters, ripping off muggle songs and poetry, as I've heard it. Sends her gifts. All very romantical." Aquila looked at George with that rare glare he had seen put in action but a few times. Her chin raised regally, her eyes flashing dangerously. That was why she had made such a successful Prefect, and now the perfect Head Girl. George shut up immediately and shuffled his feet.
"That'll be quite enough of that." she said, frostily. The rest of the team looked a little bit shame faced, and uncomfortable. "You guys should go on ahead to the Three Broomsticks, and get us a table." she said, her voice warmer and gentler this time. The rest of the team awkwardly agreed, in their brightest chirpiest voices. They didn't even notice that Oliver was staying behind, such was their haste in escaping. He had had a great excuse prepared and everything. He couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed. Aquila walked a little bit towards a secluded part of the path to Hogsmeade. Few people passed this patch of ground. Oliver followed.
"Is Draco Malfoy really in love with you?" He couldn't help but ask. She groaned again, as though the question caused her pain.
"Possibly." she said quietly. He took one hand out of his pockets and ran it down the back of her head, stroking his thumb over the back of her neck. What tension had been her shoulders dissolved under his touch.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked gently. She turned to him. There was a smile on her lips now.
"I don't know… It just didn't seem that important." She shrugged. Oliver smiled back at her.
"You're right. It isn't. I just thought you were upset when the Twins were teasing you about it." She shrugged again.
"Maybe a little. He can be a nasty piece of work, but he never stood a chance did he? His dad is Lucius Malfoy… I feel sorry for the kid. But also a little bit grossed out…" Oliver laughed once.
"Ever caring… Even towards people who gross you out." He shook his head, and pulled her close to him with gentle hands. She flattened her hands against his chest and leaned into him.
"I have the perfect antidote for that though." He rolled his eyes at that cheesy line.
"I'm glad I get to be yours. I don't think anyone else would have tolerated that line." Aquila laughed breathily, before she leaned in to kiss him. She twined her arms around his neck, and he kept his hands firmly planted on her hips. His eyes slid closed, and he felt completely and wonderfully lost. She opened her lips and sighed against his. He felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Oliver, there you are, I-" Oliver hastily broke away from Aquila, who pulled her hood up immediately and turned away. Oliver turned to see who it was.
"Percy…" The tall Head Boy stood stock still staring at Oliver, his eyes darting to the girl who stood behind him. Oliver glanced back at her. She was turned away, and he couldn't see her face. Oliver doubted that Percy could see her face either.
"I…. I'm sorry. I seem to be… Interrupting. I'll…. I'll just go." Percy darted off into town. Aquila looked at Oliver wide eyed, and a bubble of laughter escaped her. He started laughing along with her.
"I wonder what he wanted?"
"Maybe he came to tell me I wasn't good enough for you. He thinks I fancy you. Thinks you'd never go for someone like me." He pulled her towards him again, and hugged her close.
"He never… Olly! Why didn't you tell me? That weasel…" She sounded so irritated.
"It just didn't seem that important."
When they returned to the castle, word had quickly spread around the castle that the Fat Lady's portrait had been attacked. Slashed with a knife. Sirius Black had been trying to get into the Gryffindor Common Room. Aquila and Percy, and the prefects from all houses were set to task and herded the student population of the school into the Great Hall. They were to sleep there tonight while the Professor's searched the school over to make sure Black wasn't still somewhere in the school. Oliver glanced over at Harry a good few times to see how he was doing. If Oliver was being honest, he thought the boy was looking a bit shaken. Everyone knew that Sirius Black was out to get Harry. He had been the downfall of You-Know-Who. Black would want his revenge. Bed rolls replaced every table in chair in the Great Hall, and every student of the school was packed in. Oliver lay down, finding it hard to fall asleep with all the worried whispers in the hall. He heard Harry's name muttered more than once. Percy and some of the other prefects patrolled around the hall, making sure order was kept. Aquila came to lie down on the bed roll next to Oliver. She said nothing to him. Didn't even look at him at first. Then she lay on her stomach and turned her head to face him. Her face reflected back to him the worry he felt. They were both scared. A mass murdered had attacked their portrait hole. Had attempted to gain access to their Common Room. Oliver stretched his hand out across the floor. Aquila mirrored him, and they fell asleep with their fingers brushing each other's hands.