Aquila was up to take the pass from Angelina. A burly Slytherin was hurtling towards her fellow chaser at top speed. Angelina passed the quaffle. Aquila watched it fly as if in slow motion. She darted in to snatch it out of the air before the other troll of a Slytherin could steal it from them. Even if they did, Oliver was on fire today, and nothing was slipping past him. She felt a twinge of pride at the thought, before she closed a hand around the quaffle. Now it was her time to shine. She dodged a brutal bludger, a flying elephant of a Slytherin, called Goyle, and had only the Keeper to contend with. She feigned to the left, and threw to the right, curving the ball around. By that time the Keeper was diving for the left, and the quaffle flew through. Aquila's heart hammered. They were fifty points ahead. This would be the perfect time for Harry to catch the snitch. The Quaffle was back in play faster than she realised, and the Slytherins had possession. Aquila let a yell out of her as she tore after them, panic bubbling up in her. She would not let them steal this victory from them. From Oliver. The chaser she was careering towards passed the quaffle just before she reached him, then that chaser hurled the quaffle with all their might at one of the hoops at the Gryffindor end.
Aquila watched as if in slow motion. No. They were going to have the victory snatched back away from them. And then Oliver was there. He dove powerfully for the ball, and caught it up with one arm, holding it into his chest, the breath being driven from him slightly with the force of the blow.
"Brilliant save by Wood and- YES! HE'S DONE IT!" Lee Jordan screamed over the pitch. Aquila stared into Oliver's eyes. "POTTER'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!" Oliver clutched the Quaffle tightly to his chest and looked completely uncomprehending. Aquila felt her heart soaring. She didn't know how, but they had managed it. They had stolen the Cup from the grasping, slimy fingers of the Slytherins. The rest of the team was rocketing over to Harry, who held the snitch triumphantly in the air. Oliver was still dumbstruck. Aquila flew to him in front of the goals, and threw and arm around him.
"Oliver you did it! We won! We won the cup!" Oliver stared at her mutely, tears in his eyes. He dropped the quaffle and threw an arm around her, and yelled his triumph loud and proud. After a moment he disentangled from her and flew to Harry, who was down on the ground now, being swarmed by Gryffindors. Aquila followed, truly delighted. They had done it. Marcus Flint was chewing his Slytherins out of it. Malfoy stared miserably as she passed him by. She didn't care about those snakes now. She had a team of her own. Her family.
She felt tears on her own cheeks. She realised they were her family. The Weasley twins were like a pair of brothers to her, kind and caring, with wickedly sharp tongues. She knew that they would always be on her side, there for her, without a doubt. And Angelina and Katie were sisters, caring, strong, full of gossip and talk. Their strength gave her hope. They inspired Aquila like no other girls had. There was never harsh words between the three of them. Only ever love and support. And little Harry. She doted on the boy, while being terrified of the next hair-brained scheme he was involved in. Oliver. She stood next to him now, arm around him, cheering on Harry, the Twins, the Girls, and her Oliver. She turned to face him, and he was grinning at her, tears still in his ears. She out a hand on the back of his head, and leaned her forehead against his. He clasped the back of her head, his fingers twining in the loose strands of her hair. She closed her eyes for a second, then stared into the dark green eyes she loved so well.
"You did it, Olly." She heard his deep throaty laugh.
"We did it." He leaned back from her and bellowed it loudly. "WE DID IT!" The hoard of Gryffindors and some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws roared back at him. The other houses would rather anyone win, rather than the Slytherins. "GRYFFINDOR!" he shouted, again. The Gryffindors shouted it back at him. McGonogall stood stoic up in the stands, but she clapped as fiercely as anyone. She looked so proud. She had never seen Oliver smile as much as he was smiling right now. He looked like he was living the best day of his life. The Twins were chanting his name, the Gryffindors rallied around him, McGonogall had come down from the stands to shake his hand. His smile was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. And it seemed that there would be no end to smiles.
The team was ushered up into the stands, to Dumbledore, who stood with a twinkling smile, and a giant silver cup that already had their names on it. Oliver started to cry rivers of tears at the sight of it.
"This year's Quidditch House Tournament victors are Gryffindor! Under the guidance of their captain and Keeper, Oliver Wood, the team has come to this fierce victory through their hard work, and daring. Chasers Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Aquila Virgo Valentine. Beaters Fred and George Weasley. And Seeker Harry Potter. Together, you have brought your house victory and glory." Dumbledore's voice echoed all over the stadium, to the cheers of most of the students. Then came the presentation of the cup. Gryffindor colours had been tied from each handle. Dumbledore presented it to Oliver, who paused for a moment, clearly blinded by the tears streaming from his eyes. Then he took both handles from the Headmaster, hoisted it into the air, and roared like a Gryffindor. He turned to his team, beaming bleary-eyed at them all. It was an emotional time for all of them. Nobody was unaffected by how choked up he was by this. The grinned at him, congratulated him, laughed. Then he passed the cup among them, and Oliver wasn't the only one crying anymore.
Oliver and Aquila sat together in his abandoned dorm room, on his four poster. He clutched the cup in his arms, still afraid to believe that it had really happened. The rest of the house partied furiously downstairs. They sat together admiring the sheen on the cup, their names etched into the silver. The rest of the team agreed that the cup was hers. They wanted him to keep it, and Dumbledore didn't really care what they did with the cup either way. It was his pride. The thing he had been striving for for the last seven years.
"You worked so hard, and it all payed off." Aquila said, gently. He looked up into her eyes, and grinned from ear to ear. He had never been so happy in all his life.
"You're still in your, robes you poor thing." Aquila said, with a small laugh. He looked down at the uncomfortable chafing padding over his robes. He grinned at her, and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
"What would I do without you? You made that final score right when we needed it." He set about unlacing the padding. Aquila leaned forward and helped.
"You made the most amazing save of the century right when we bloody well needed it. If they had gotten that Quaffle past you, Harry would have caught the snitch, and it would have been all over. You did it, Olly." As the last piece of padding came away he, took a deep breath, revelling in the lack of constriction. He pulled the sweaty robes up over his head and discarded them, letting the cool air touch his warm skin. He turned back to Aquila, who was still smiling softly at him.
"I'm so happy for you Oliver." He put an arm around her, and pulled her close.
"I couldn't have done any of it without you." She rolled her eyes at that.
"Yes you could have. You strategized constantly, you worked like an absolute demon. This is your achievement. You got us all up to scratch. Don't sell yourself short for a second." she said, sternly. He loved her for that. Oliver couldn't help but kiss her. He covered her lips with his, in the strongest kiss he had ever given her. Her hands lay on the bare skin of his shoulders, before she held him by the waist, pulling him closer. He knotted his hands into her windswept hair, enjoying the feeling of her gentle hands on his skin. He felt her tongue running over his lips. He was intrigued by that, by the shiver it sent through him. Then the door to the dorm opened. They jumped apart. Oliver looked to see who was rounding the door. Who else would it ever possibly be.
"Percy." Aquila said, in a bright, friendly voice. She smiled at the boy. He looked surprised to see her, but he smiled back.
"Aquila! Oliver! Congratulations on your victory. I was jolly well pleased to see our noble house winning the Quidditch House Cup at last. Well deserved." Oliver smiled at the boy, and only felt mildly irked that he had interrupted him and Aquila again. He stood and looked at them awkwardly for a second, before he took in Oliver's state of undress.
"Oliver, honestly. I know you just won the cup, but you can't be so scantily clad in front of Aquila. It's indecent." The Head boy frowned at him. Aquila glanced at Oliver. He had been telling her about how impossibly clueless he was. Finally she was getting her proof.
"Percy, for the last time, I'm her boyfriend. We've been to each other's houses. Met each other's families, shared a bed. I think she can handle me shirtless." Aquila snorted back a laugh. He frowned at her for a second. Percy looked stubborn.
"You need to stop spreading these rumours about yourself Oliver. Aquila clearly doesn't appreciate these lies you're telling about her." She was looking at Percy with big eyes, before she started to laugh.
"Wow… He really doesn't believe you." Aquila continued to laugh, before she got to her feet, still laughing. "Good luck Oliver!" she called, still in the stitches, as she closed the door behind her. He stared after her, then rounded on Percy.
"Why are you up here anyways?" he snapped. Percy blushed.
"To congratulate you." Oliver lay back.
"Oh. Thank you, Percy." He couldn't even stay mad at Percy. He had won the cup.