Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Fourteen

"You reckon he's on his man-period?" Alicia wondered out loud as we both watched Oliver yell at Fred and George. He was waving his hands in the air franticly as his face started turning red.

"I bloody well hope not. Our game's tomorrow and if he keeps this up our practice will be complete shit."

"Spinnet!" Oliver bellowed when he finally noticed us hovering on our brooms just staring at him. "I don't know what the hell you think you're doing up there, but the quaffle's down here." He shouted motioning to Katie and Angelina practicing maneuvers with the quaffle below us.

Alicia glanced at me and gave me a look before she slowly started to descend to join the other chasers. "Bloody prat." She muttered on her way.

Oliver still watching her adopted a scowl. "What was that Spinnet?" He growled menacingly.

"Nothing!" Alicia let out innocently before accelerating her speed so she could most likely put as much distance as possible between her and our Captain.

As soon as she had gone Oliver looked back at me and I immediately braced myself for the worst. But he didn't say anything, only gave me the dirtiest look possible before zooming away towards the goalposts, leaving me absolutely baffled.

Since when did Oliver ever pass up an opportunity to boss me around? He practically lived for it every practice.

"Katie! What the hell–Come on!"

And Oliver most certainly never yelled at Katie like that before, it was impossible to. I mean, come on, it was Katie.

"Angelina! Pass the damn ball already! Bloody hell! Look alive team! We have a game tomorrow!" He roared zooming about yelling at everyone. Of course this only caused them to lose their concentration which made Oliver yell even more.

"Merlin, I think Oliver's finally had too many broomsticks shoved up his ass." I said flying over to Fred and George. They were both glowering at Oliver.

"That must be why he's acting like such a bleeding prick." George said grouchily as he swung at a bludger too harshly and it swerved into an entirely different direction he was aiming for.

Oliver didn't miss this and immediately flew towards us.

"Fred! George! You better get that bludger back here before I make you hit the ground and do so many suicides, you'd want to commit suicide after I'm through with you. You got that?!" He barked heatedly.

"I already want to commit bloody suicide." Fred murmured as he and George flew away in search of the missing bludger.

Yet again I waited for Oliver to turn to me and start cursing me to oblivion for my lack of catching the snitch yet, but this time he didn't even glance at me as he went back to watching the chasers with a critical eye.

Seriously? What in merlin's name was with the cold-shouldering?

With an annoyed huff I turned away from Oliver and flew further up. The afternoon sunlight was pouring across my face and I had to squint as I continued to ascend higher. Maybe if I found the snitch Oliver would finally end practice and get a freaking tampon already.

I stopped once I was significantly above everyone else. From where I was, the field and stands looked so small they would be just an inch between my forefinger and thumb. I surveyed the layout before me, my eyes trained on the slightest hint of a glimmer or movement. I figured it wouldn't be that hard to spot what with the bright sun casting a sparkle on everything that would reflect it. I circled the premises, trying to focus on catching the snitch but I would get distracted by Oliver's hollering every few minutes. Even with the distance between us I could hear his yells, albeit faint, but still distinct and sharp.

I closed my eyes for a moment blocking out Oliver's voice and focusing instead on the slight hum of the wind and the melodic calls of birds soaring through the air. I opened my eyes again, and this time it only took a few seconds for my eyes to find it, glittering beautifully against the green grass of the field beneath it.

I took off immediately, gaining speed as I dived towards the ground. The snitch was hanging by Angelina who was unaware of it as she passed the quaffle to Katie.

I was making my way to the chasers when there was a sudden whooshing to my left. I looked away from the snitch just in time to duck my head as a bludger that was headed straight for my face whizzed past me. I only looked back for the snitch once I was sure the bludger wasn't coming back anytime soon as it disappeared into the sky.

This time the snitch was zipping just above the ground and once again I lunged for it, keeping my arms tight against my side and back low for maximum acceleration. I was so close to reaching it until it changed its mind and decided to take flight again. I gritted my teeth and pulled out of the dive sharply, not even stopping for a moment's breath as I zoomed past the chasers, all of whom were cheering me on.

The snitch was trailing a path against the walls of the stands and I followed it close behind. Now it was just an arm's length away so I reached my hand out as I willed my broom to go faster. I was stilling following it as it made its way down to the field. In the distance I could see Oliver's figure growing bigger. I only had a few moments to reach the snitch or else I would go hurtling into him. With this in mind, I let go of my broom with my other hand stretching both arms to reach the snitch. And with only a few feet away from Oliver, I managed to close my fingers around the little bugger, just in time to swerve away.

The whole team erupted into cheers as they flew towards me. My face broke into a wide grin as I breathed heavily, my lungs were practically fighting for oxygen at this point. To think some people think there's no effort in riding a broom.

"That was bloody freakin' brilliant!" Fred exclaimed.

"Best catch I've ever seen you do!" Angelina said enthusiastically.

We all talked excitedly amongst each other, expressing our confidence in the game tomorrow especially if the weather was as good as today.

"Hit the showers team!" Oliver barked still at the same spot where I had caught the snitch not bothering to join our circle. He didn't even glance behind back at us to see if we were following as he descended to towards the ground.

I turned back to everyone, my smile gone. "Is he fucking kidding me?" I said. No one answered as they too began to fly down to the pitch, their faces just as upset as mine. Only Katie looked back at me giving me a small smile and a 'good job,' before flying down.

I looked down at my hand. The snitch had quieted down and stopped struggling, admitting defeat. All that work and not even an ounce of acknowledgement. It made me angrier just looking at it, which is why I opened my hand and let it go. It regained its energy and whizzed around me for a few moments as it exercised its wings before shooting up towards the open blue sky, reveling in its freedom. I watched it until it disappeared and then when I couldn't see even a glint I followed my teammates to the pitch.

I landed with a loud resounding thud and trailed quietly after everyone. At this point I was fuming.

The locker room was empty once we got there but the sound of water running in the boy's shower room told us we still weren't in the clear.

I passed everyone taking off their Quidditch gear to my locker. I opened it forcefully and it hit the empty locker next to it with a loud bang. I went through my gym back blindly for a second before pushing it away angrily. I stood there, my blood practically boiling as I heard the shower turn off and minutes later footsteps entering the locker room.

Everyone was still at their respective lockers. Not talking, not moving, just waiting for Oliver to say something, anything. But nothing came.

I heard him open his locker and sift through his things not saying a word to anyone.

And that was the final straw.

"Look." I said whirling around to face him. "I don't know if it's that time of the month for you, but you should still show your team some bloody respect." I spat out as Oliver didn't even turn around and merely continued to go through his gym bag. "Especially," I continued even more heatedly, "Since we have a fucking game tomorrow."

Oliver stopped what he was doing and there was a moment when we all held our breath, waiting for it. The inevitable Oliver Wood Volcano Eruption.

But he just stood there. Finally after what felt like the longest silence ever he went back to looking through his bag.

I clenched my fists. Still angry but also confused. I wasn't used to this. Oliver never gave the silent treatment. He always fought back, pushing me as much as I pushed him, sometimes even more. I looked to my teammates and they looked as confused as I was.

I turned back at Oliver when I heard his locker close. He was pulling a t-shirt on and finally he turned to his right looking at everyone but me. "Team dismissed." He said evenly.

I shook my head scoffing. Unbelievable.

This time, finally, Oliver reacted. "Team dismissed." He barked loudly, his voice echoing through the still locker room. He turned to me for the first time since the beginning of our practice. A look so furious it actually took me by surprise. "Except you." He said in a low voice. It was the first words he had said to me today and actually all week. I now realized why I hadn't seen him at all the past few days. It was because he didn't want to see me. Because he was angry at me for what, I didn't know.

"I said team dismissed." Oliver said again, his eyes now never leaving me.

Everyone was still there watching us. Katie stepped forward. "Oliver." She started.

But I stopped her with a shake of my head. Alicia took the hint and she grabbed Katie's hand and motioned for everyone to get going. Katie glanced back at me worriedly but she let Alicia lead her towards the door. Alicia was the last to file out and she mouthed a good luck as she closed the door behind her.

As soon as the door closed I turned back to Oliver.

"So, what?" I said, my eyes narrowing. "What the hell did I do this time?"

"Please" He spat acidly. "Don't act like you didn't do a bloody thing."

"Uh, no it's not acting Oliver." I retorted. "I actually didn't do any –"

"I saw you!" He roared.

I gaped at him. "What the fuck are you talking about?!" I yelled, now absolutely furious.

"Diggory!"

My ears vibrated at the loudness of his voice, my mouth parted slightly from the look of ferocity on his face, and my eyes widened at what he had just said. He couldn't know. I closed my mouth trying to make my face indifferent. "What –"

Oliver shook his head vehemently. "I saw you." He repeated his voice low. "I saw you at Hogsmeade." He continued his voice building up in volume again when I still hadn't said anything. "I saw you fucking snogging him!"

I looked away from him down at my dirty trainers for a second before looking up. "Alright, it's true." I admitted looking up at him. My anger was diminishing away replaced by slight guilt. "But, you don't have to go ape shit on me!" I defended walking around the bench between us to get closer to him, trying to explain. "It's really not what you think!"

Oliver scoffed backing away out of my reach.

"Honestly, Oliver you've got it all wrong! We're just –

"I don't want to hear any of your bullshit excuses." He said harshly looking down at me with disgust.

God, why can't he just hear me out and listen? I was starting to get more annoyed than guilt-ridden now. "It's not an excuse!" I said exasperated. "We're not –"

"You know the rules!" His voice drowning out my own. "No dating during the Quidditch season. Especially when that bloody someone is the fucking captain of another team!"

Unbelievable. "Right of course. I guess you're the only exception to that rule than huh?" I scoffed my temper rising rapidly. If Oliver wanted to go there, I bloody well will too.

"I mean, I guess it's all fine and dandy that you can date. You are the captain of course." I sneered at the word captain, my sarcasm and resentment practically dripping off my words.

Oliver glared at me, mouth tight and body rigid. "Staunton." He warned through gritted teeth.

We were on last name territory now, our rage coming to a boiling point. But I didn't back down I was too fucking angry.

"Who cares if your girlfriend is a Ravenclaw, you know the house we're playing tomorrow?!" My voice was getting louder and louder with each word as I stepped closer to him, my fist practically shaking. "Because you're so above the rules aren't you?!"

"The only reason why I'm even dating her is because you forced me too!" Wood snarled out.

"HA!" I laughed, fake and loud. "And I suppose I forced you to snog her too!"

"ENOUGH!" Wood bellowed.

"Face it Wood!" I screamed infuriated. "You're a filthy hypocrite!"

"And you're –" He started taking heated steps towards me but abruptly stopped. Instead he clenched his fists tightly and then just looked down at me with those same fired-up eyes, dark with absolute fury and yet his face had become indifferent and cool, like he was trying to keep his anger in check because I wasn't even worth the fight anymore. "You know what? Piss off. I've fucking had it with you." He said turning away from me, dismissing me as he gathered his gym bag off the floor.

I threw my head back and screamed to let out the fire dangerously swallowing all of my insides. Breathing hard, I adopted the same look when Wood didn't even glance at me. "Yeah? Well, fuck you too." I said harshly my voice husky from the anger, and the yelling, and the hate. I shoved him roughly as I passed by and he barely budged which infuriated me even more. Before I reached the locker room doors I turned around. Wood was still at his locker, bag in hand glaring at the space in front of him, refusing to look at me, as if I was just that vile.

"For the record," I spat acidly finally setting it straight even though he didn't even deserve the truth. But I sure as hell wasn't going to look like the bad guy here. "We're not together. We kissed. I didn't like it. We're just friends." I said watching as his eyebrows began to un-crease a little. And that's when I took the opportunity to say coldly: "So next time before you jump to your deluded conclusions actually give a person a fucking chance to explain."

Wood slowly turned towards me and this time I was the one who couldn't stand to look at the other. I turned back around before I could meet his eyes and violently swung the door open.

In came the whole Gryffindor team, tumbling one after the other. They were clearly listening the entire time.

There was a moment of silence as the team looked up at me and I looked down at them.

"This isn't what it looks like." Fred finally said from his sprawled position on the floor.

"Er, yeah." George said backing up his brother. "We uh–that is the whole team–forgot our–uh–thing." He finished lamely resulting in a really-that-was-the-best-you-could-do-look from Fred.

I ignored both of them as I stepped over all of them and went out the door.

"Charlie!" Katie called as she rushed to my side. "Are you alright?" She asked concernedly. That's when I realized I hadn't told anyone about the Diggory incident never mind Katie, my best friend.

I looked at her guiltily. "I was going to tell you." I said, kicking my feet against the dirt.

"Yeah, I know. Maybe in the next decade." She said, but she was smiling so I knew she didn't hold anything against me.

As we made our way to the castle silently I couldn't help but notice with each gradual step Katie seemed to practically bounce off the ground. When we reached the front door she was hopping up and down. Her mouth was pursed and I knew she was trying to give me some time to cool off before she gave me the second degree.

"Go ahead." I sighed when I couldn't take her shiny googley eyes trained on me any longer.

Katie immediately let out an excited squeal and then proceeded do a little dance jig around me, which consisted of more bunny hopping and googley eyes.

"You know me and Cedric aren't together right?" I asked as she continued to skip around even when we reached a crowded main hall. It was late afternoon now and everyone was getting out of their last classes and practically celebrating the weekend in the corridors. It was a pretty good weekend considering the big Quidditch game tomorrow.

"I know." Katie giggled as we pushed past some rowdy seventh years shoving each other. "But still!"

I rolled my eyes but my shoulders had finally stopped tensing thanks to Katie being such a wonderful human being.

"I can't believe you finally gave into his charms!"

Okay, maybe not that wonderful.

"What do you mean give into his charms?" I said incredulously.

"You let him kiss you!" Katie excited shriek did not fall on deaf ears. I put a hand over her mouth as people started to glance at us.

"If I let go do you promise to not screech like a banshee this time?" I asked. Katie nodded her head enthusiastically. Which obviously meant that she was going to scream even louder, but I took my hand away anyway.

"Why did you let him kiss you?" Katie asked curiously. "You always insisted you didn't fancy him."

I shrugged. "I don't know. I just thought it was worth a shot." I said remembering the conversation I had with Annabel prior to the whole shebang.

"Well was it any good?" Katie exclaimed wide eyed and gripping my arm eagerly.

"Katie, you are not fooling anyone with your girl next door disguise. You are full on pervy."

Katie widened her eyes and a blush of embarrassment filled her face as a couple of boys passing by overheard us and gave Katie the old once-over.

I laughed out loud while Katie scowled at me. She pinched my arm as we stepped off a staircase and onto a less crowded corridor. But she did giggle with me when I couldn't help but laugh again.

"Seriously though!" Katie said. "Tell me!"

I rolled my eyes at her but I couldn't help but remember the way Cedric held the back of my head gently and just so. "Well, let's just say his looks shouldn't be all that he's known for." I whispered with a wiggle of my eyebrows before I gave the password to the portrait and stepped into our common room. Katie let out a scandalized gasp as she crawled in behind me.

"There you lot are!" Katie and I turned to see Angelina walking towards us mother-hen face on. Behind her sitting by the fire was the rest of the team minus Biggest Asshole to Walk the Face of the Earth. "Where've you been?" Angelina asked as she looked at me concernedly.

"Sorry. We took the long way here." Katie replied assuring Angelina with her smile that I was not about to spontaneously combust.

Although I wish I could spontaneously combust all over Wood and his stupid egotistical pig-headed face. That was a sacrifice I would be willing to make.

"Well are you sure you're alright Charlie? Because Oliver was a right prick today." Angelina said.

"Who cares about Charlie's feelings!" Alicia exclaimed joining us along with Fred and George. "She bloody snogged Cedric Diggory! After that, you're good to go for the rest of your life!"

"Bloody hell, shut your trap Spinnet." I hissed looking around the room to make sure no one had heard.

"We need to get you a muzzle." Angelina agreed.

"I'll help!" Fred piped up.

Alicia glared at him and then barked in his face. Seriously, she did. She sounded like a chihuahua.

"I guess there's no trouble in paradise after all?" George said wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes. "There is no bloody paradise!" I said exasperated. "We're not together!"

"What a heartbreaker." Fred muttered to George.

"Heartless." George agreed.

I raised my hands in defeat. "I give up on this day." I left the common room and made my way up the girl's staircase with Katie behind me.

"Oliver really was out of line." Katie said to me once we made it into our dormitory.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore." I replied coolly rummaging through my trunk finding clean clothes to change in for dinner. My smelly and sweat-covered Quidditch robes were getting uncomfortable and kept reminding me of my terrible day and how much I hated He Who Must Not Be Named. And I was not talking about You Know Who but about Prick Who Goes Around Accusing People as Couples with No Proof.

"Mind if I go first?" Katie asked her bath things and change of clothes already in hand.

"Go ahead." I said finally finding a white t-shirt and some jeans.

As Katie closed the door to the loo behind her, I set my clean clothes on my bed and forced myself to lie down on the floor instead of stinking up my sheets with my smelly self.

Lying down on the floor I couldn't help but go back to the prior events of the day. My knuckles scraped against the wooden floor as I clenched them as I remembered his face. Glaring at me: furious, disbelieving, unwavering. And yet there was something. Something I couldn't quite name or understand that was mixed with his anger. It looked a lot like—

"Wotcher!"

I tilted my head back to see an upside down Leanne entering the room. I rolled over onto my stomach and Leanne became right-side up again.

"Yo." I greeted.

Leanne placed her school bag on top of her trunk and looked down at me. "What're you doing on the floor?" She asked giving me a weird look.

"Oh, nothing. Just counting the days until I die because of Quidditch." I said rolling back unto my back.

"What's with her?" Leanne asked Katie as she emerged from the bathroom.

"She got into a row with Oliver." Katie replied grabbing her wand and performing a spell to make her hair dry.

Leanne rolled her eyes. "Surprise, surprise." She said sarcastically. "What about this time?"

Katie glanced at me and I took that as my cue to go to the bath. "Knock on the door when you're done." I called out before closing the door.

I heard them murmuring as I began to take off my clothes, then a loud shriek that not even the running water could muffle.

I sighed heavily as I sank down into the tub.

I was so in for it.

xxx

Before every game Wood has this weird tradition. Every morning before a match we go down to the Great Hall for breakfast and Wood being the crazy that he is, is always at breakfast before any of the other team members and possibly the entire student population and staff. Once the whole Gryffindor team is down, Wood gathers all of us and makes us sit at the very end of the Gryffindor table nearest the door. Normal enough? Yeah, just getting started.

Once we are all seated we are not allowed to talk, only eat. One peep and Wood shoots a look of fury at you that could make even me shut-up (I know from experience because I have broken this rule countless times only to be silenced from a stink-eye across the table.)

Wood calls this whole thing tradition and the area we sit sacred. I call it bullshit.

As nutty the whole thing is he has made it very clear that that part of the table has a radius in which no one but our team players can set foot on on game days. And everyone knows that you shouldn't make a psycho mad, especially on his unstable days (Quidditch days,) so people actually listen to Wood and avoid that part of the table like it's the plague.

But, there was this one time. Oh my god. It was horrible. One morning there was this puny, innocent, unsuspecting first year who made the mistake of putting like a toe on Wood's invisible and imaginary line that separated the "Sanctuary," as Wood has taken to calling it, from the rest of the hall. And bloody hell the kid didn't even know what hit him before Wood pounced on him like a freaking guard-dog. It's disconcerting, to say the least, how easily Wood can make a little kid cry.

Today was different though. Because now I knew firsthand what full-blown Wood pratness was like so instead of joining everyone else in the Sanctuary I sat next to Leanne on the opposite end of the Gryffindor table.

"Why are you sitting with me and not with the rest of the team?" Leanne asked as she buttered her bread.

"Because," I began, grabbing a chocolate muffin and an apple from the plates by me. "I would like to win today's game. And I very well don't think we can do that if our keeper is dead and buried deep within the Forbidden Forest." I said calmly taking a loud bite from my apple.

Leanne giggled. "As long as your homicidal thoughts are kept within your head, I am not worried." She stated.

"They are." I said and then flashed her a cheeky smile. "For now."

"Cue the maniacal evil laughter." Said a voice behind me.

"Morning Cedric." I said tilting my head back to look at him. That's when I noticed not far from where Cedric was standing, Wood was frozen in place. It looked like he was on his way to get me and force me into the Sanctuary.

What a prick. Like I was going to go anywhere near him and his precious Sanctuary after what he said to me.

"Hmph." I turned away from Wood, my nose in the air obviously snubbing him. I stood up from my seat and stuffed my half-eaten muffin in my pocket. "I'm going to head out." I told Cedric and Leanne. I glanced to my left and Wood was still there gawking at me, so I leaned over and gave Cedric a big ol' hug.

"Boy, you sure are the greatest friend Cedric." I said loudly enough for Wood, and most of the entire hall, to hear. "Hope no one thinks our relationship is anything but platonic just because we're hugging!"

"What a great hug!" I continued just as loudly as I patted a confused Cedric on the shoulder.

"He's gone you know." Leanne pointed out. And much to my happiness Wood was in the middle of storming off. Yeah, take that and shove it up your sacred Sanctuary.

"Sorry." I said to Cedric.

"Glad to help?" Cedric said uncertainly.

"I honestly don't know why you put up with me." I told him.

"Yeah, me neither." He agreed. "Especially since you're not even letting me snog you."

"Cedric!" I gasped looking around for any busybodies. He hadn't said it loudly but still.

He laughed. "Too soon?"

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Merlin, you are fit." Leanne sighed dreamily as she looked up at us from her seat. And then realizing what she had just said turned red. "Shit, I bleeding said that out loud!"

Cedric laughed again. "Thanks." He said smiling at her. She all but melted into her porridge. "Can I walk you to the field?" He asked me.

I shrugged. "Sure." I turned to Leanne, "See you after the game." I said but she was still a pile of I Love Cedric Goo, and probably didn't understand a word I said.

We made our way out of the Great Hall and I steadfastly avoided looking at the end of the Gryffindor table as we passed by.

"So what's with you and Wood?"

I heaved a breath before I looked at him. "He saw us." I admitted.

Cedric made an uh-oh face. "Yeah, I know. He totally thought we were together." I said snorting.

"Salt on wound." Cedric said.

I winced. "Sorry." I apologized.

He shook his head good naturedly. "S'alright. I'll get over it."

An awkward silence fell between us as we made our way through various corridors leading us to the nearest exit to the pitch.

It's the truth when I say I have absolutely no idea what is wrong with me. I am as confounded as everyone else has been that Cedric Diggory does not make my heart aflutter or my hormones so insuppressible that I can't stop myself from blurting "you're a fitty," out loud. Nor that I am not completely taken with his very skillful technique of the art of snogging. I guess this is what I get for fancying boys with names like Stinkowitz.

"If it's anything to you," I started finally. "Leanne will totally trade an arm and a leg to have you, as well as the entire student population. And I am including blokes for a reason." I said winking.

Cedric chuckled. "That's enough out of you." He said motioning to the approaching grassy field ahead. The weather was completely different from the last match. It was a cool day, with a little breeze, but the sky was clear.

"Good luck out there." He said once we had to separate, me to the locker rooms, him to the stands.

"Thanks." I said with a smile before he turned to go. I watched him walk away towards a growing crowd. I noticed with a raise of a brow when he accidently bumped into Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker I was up against today. And I most definitely noticed the smile they exchanged. And I guess that's all it took, an encounter and a glance, for someone to move on.

Before turning back to the locker room another couple caught my eye: Annabel and Wood. They were holding hands and I could see she was trying to get him to relax as he ran his free hand through his hair over and over again. When talking didn't seem to help she placed both hands to either side of his face, forcing him to look at her. She stared at him intently saying something, and then when he finally nodded, pulled him in for a kiss.

I pulled a hair tie from my wrist as I turned around and tied the curls that were long enough to pull back, which, honestly, was barely anything, and headed over to the team locker room. Surprisingly I was still the first one to show up. I went to my locker and grabbed my protective gear. I was going through my routine of putting on my equipment and pumping myself up when the door opened and Wood came in. It was obvious he hadn't expected me to be the only one there and I watched him silently, my face indifferent, as he ran a hand through his already messy hair. He was about to open his mouth and say something, and in turn, I was about to completely shut him down, when the rest of the team came spilling in.

"Who is ready to kick some Ravenclaw ass?!" Fred roared before he proceeded to give everyone a chest bump. As Angelina tried to swat Fred away, Katie walked over to me pulling her hair into two blonde pigtails. "Everything okay?" She asked as she sat down next to me.

"Fine." I replied bending down to re-lace my shoes.

"Alright team." Wood began once everyone was all geared up and seated. "This is our last chance to be in the running for the cup." He went on, pacing in front of us, brows furrowed. He was quiet for a minute before he turned to face us. Yet again he pulled at his hair. He looked straight at me when he dropped his hand. "Yesterday's practice was brilliant." He said continuing to stare. I averted my eyes my gaze resting instead on my fingernails as Wood continued. "So, let's just fly like we did yesterday and we'll win this!"

Fred and George began to whoop and stomp their feet simultaneously. Before getting up and grabbing their beater's bats. Katie, too, was totally in the zone, her stern face, the look she only adopted when there was a match to win, counteracted greatly with her sweet pigtails.

I followed her out of the locker rooms and unto the field the stands erupted into deafening applause as the Ravenclaw team entered the pitch too. We all lined up facing our own opponent respectively. Cho Chang gave me a tiny smile when we faced each other. She was definitely the kind of pretty that blokes took notice too, hopefully Cedric felt the same.

"Wood, Davies, shake hands." Madam Hooch said briskly to the team captains. I had almost forgotten that Roger Davies was head of the Ravenclaws. I watched the two shake hands and made a face of disgust as I saw the slimy smirk on Davies face as they did so. Git. That reminded me.

When Hooch blew the whistle for the match to start, before I shot up further into the sky, I took a detour by Fred and George.

"Oi!" I yelled catching their attention. "Give Davies hell will ya?" I said thinking about Leanne.

"Baby I love it when you talk revenge to me!" George replied before he and Fred exchanged grins and zoomed for the bludger.

In a matter of seconds I heard Jordan's booming voice over the commentary stating that Davies had taken a bludger to the arm and that the twins had the bludger in possession for round two.

I smiled to myself as I accelerated further up. As I scanned the pitch for the snitch I heard Jordan's voice again. Katie had just scored the first goal of the game and as the Gryffindor side of the stands went wild, my excitement level was going crazy with them.

I was making quick rounds around the pitch when I noticed Chang tailing me. I glanced behind me and I saw the look of concentration on her face as she made sure she followed my every move. Well, if that's your strategy.

I rose up in the air higher and higher, my curls and robes thrashing violently behind me as I sped faster and faster. A whooshing below me told me Chang wasn't far behind so I veered off to the left sharply. But another glance behind me showed she was still there tearing after me. I had to hand it to her, she was a pretty good flyer. But I was sure I could out-dive her. Dives were, after all, my specialty.

I dove for the ground keeping my body tight and taught as I spiraled downwards. I dodged players and a bludger but once I was below the actual ongoing game I could easily regain speed as I headed for the ground. Once I was a mere several feet above the field I pulled out of the dive sharply, keeping my head down as I shot up once again into the sky. Chang came hurtling down past me and a loud crash told me she couldn't pull out of the dive fast enough.

With her out of the way I could search for the snitch in peace. But just as I thought this Jordan had spoken up again. "Chang took a nasty hit to the ground but looks like she's climbing back on that broom!"

I looked down and sure enough she was putting a leg over her broom slowly. She winced as she did so which meant she probably sprained her ankle or something. I let out a curse as I looked across the field for gold to catch my eye. I had to find the snitch fast. Ravenclaw was catching up, with Gryffindor only fifty points ahead. I couldn't let Chang catch the snitch or else we'd lose even with the lead.

I scanned the field quickly hoping for a glint of gold to pass. And there it was! Just like yesterday hanging by Wood and the Gryffindor goal posts.

Chang noticed it before I did and she zoomed past me racing towards it. I tore after getting a flashback of the last game when I couldn't catch up with Cedric and he clamped his hands over the snitch just as I was about to fall to the ground. I narrowed my eyes shaking off the thought and gained speed. Even though she wasn't that much taller than me, I still had a couple of inches off her so I knew if I put enough effort in I could reach the snitch before she could.

The stands were going completely wild as everyone watched the two of us race it out. I was right behind her now, but the snitch was looming closer and closer. Suddenly there was a great whooshing in my ear to my right and I knew it was a bludger before turning to look at it. Chang noticed it too and she frantically looked from the bludger to the snitch and then the bludger again before finally swerving out of harm's way. I, however, kept going, even with the bludger dangerously close to hitting me in a matter of mere seconds.

If only I could just speed up I could pass it before it hit me and grab the snitch. I gripped my broom tighter and took the chance. Tightening my thighs against my broom I braced myself for impact just in case as I zoomed forward for the snitch with an outstretched arm. The bludger was right there now and I sped forward even more and thankfully it narrowly missed my leg as it hurtled against the end of my broom. I heard a few broomsticks breaking and I swerved slightly to the left from the collision, but I was able to recover quickly just in time to grasp the shiny snitch.

The crowd erupted in cheers even before Hooch blew the whistle signaling the end of the game. All of a sudden I was tackled by Angelina, Alicia, and Katie, all of whom were screeching in my ear. I glanced over Angelina's shoulder to see Wood trapped between Fred and George's arms as they did a dance around him still on their brooms. He didn't seem to mind since he was actually laughing. I turned back to the girls and we made our way down to the field still attached together. Immediately after we touched ground we were engulfed by a huge crowd of Gryffindors all yelling and shouting. I yelled with them as I punched my fist in the air, the snitch still in hand. When they saw it the crowd erupted into louder cheers.

"PARTY! PARTY!" Fred roared to everyone as he joined us. If the screaming could get any louder, it just did. George riled everyone up repeating the word party over and over again and soon enough everyone was chanting it.

It was going to be one hell of a long night.

What? a party? OH YEAH! A teenage fanfic is never complete without a raging party!
And yeah, that's it for the short-lived and one-sided love story of Cedric and Charlie! He was never supposed to be a main love interest anyway but hey! Who knows what I come up with in later chapters!

Also, a new chapter coming very soon, sometime next week! I want to get at least one more chapter in before I have to go back to hell - ahem - school! But nevermind my impending doom! I am really very excited for this next chapter! It was one of those chapters I had all planned out from the beginning. So! See you then!

MAR