Oliver didn't understand why he was so nervous on his walk from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts. He'd done this walk so many times over his years spent at school here. He shivered against the chill of the night. He wasn't used to cold air touching his bare legs. He smoothed the creases in his kilt as he walked, his eyes ever on the castle. Aquila had told him she'd be wearing red. He had opted for the red tartan of the older branch of the family. He adjusted the brooch on his shoulder that held the tartan in place. He was in proper formal attire. The knife in his hose had proper boars tusk ivory for a handle. He was decked out in his absolute finest. He didn't look half bad, he had decided as he'd give himself one last inspection in the mirror before he left. Definitely respectable. This was as good as it got with him. He couldn't make himself any more respectable or attractive. He just wanted to do Aquila proud. He handed his pass to Filch at the gate, who eyed him suspiciously. Oliver gave him a very strained smile and continued on into the school grounds. It was very strange for him to be returning here not as a student. The grounds looked magical in the snow and the moonlight. Everything glittered with the fresh blanket of frost that lay on everything in sight. Lights were strewn in trees around the castle increasing the beautiful atmosphere. He just felt more nervous the closer he got to the castle. What if his formal wasn't good enough?
He entered the entrance hall, and made for the foot of the great stairs, where Aquila said she would meet him. He was exceptionally early, as always. He wouldn't mind the wait too much. Aquila was always worth waiting for. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Almost immediately, Cedric Diggory was at his side, in his finest dress robes. Oliver was a Scotsman before he was wizard. Dress robes would never do for him.
"Oliver! What are you doing here? It's wonderful to see you!" He was all smiles, as he offered his hand. Oliver shook it firmly.
"Aquila asked me to accompany her. I hear you're one of the champions. Congratulations. Of course my loyalties lie with the Gryffindor champion himself, but I'm delighted to hear how well you're doing." Aquila had filled him in on all the details of the first task. He felt like he was going to faint when she told him that Harry had to face the Hungarian Horntail. He was only fourteen. Cedric looked somewhat pleased, and had one of his charming smiles for Oliver.
"Thank you. I don't know what I had expected, but it certainly wasn't this." Cedric took a breath. Oliver noticed a gaggle of girls that he didn't recognise by the wall staring at the pair of them and giggling. They must have been Beauxbatons girls. He blushed slightly and looked away. You'd swear they'd never seen a boy in a kilt before.
"Your dad wanted to enter didn't he?" Oliver got the distinct impression that Cedric's dad had pushed his son into this. Oliver felt some pity for the boy. He didn't deserve all the pressure of expectations from his dad. He was a good egg.
"He did, yeah. He was delighted when he found out I was the champion. He wasn't too happy about Potter, but I talked him down. Oh. Here she is now." Cedric moved towards the stairs. Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker was making her way towards Diggory. That confused Oliver. Hadn't Cedric been dating a different girl? That didn't matter. Cho came to say a delicate hello to Oliver, asking him how he was doing. They swapped polite conversation for a time, before Diggory led her off so they could have their moment alone.
Oliver was left to stand on his own, the gang of Beauxbatons girls still staring at him. Did they think he looked ridiculous? Was that it? He stood a little taller. As a Wood, it was his right to wear the tartan, and he would wear it proud. His usual frown slid into place. The girls giggled ferociously, a flurry of French coming from them. But he had not time to worry about it. She was making her way down the stairs. She was wearing red alright. Sheer lace was picked out with strategic and graceful gatherings of deep red felt. The skirts of her dress were voluminous, yet incredibly delicate. She clutched the skirts up with one hand expertly, revealing a deep blue underskirt. Her hair was gathered back in curled ponytail that rested on her shoulder. Upon her head was a delicate diadem of pearls, denoting her title. Aquila Virgo Valentine walked down the stairs like a princess, silencing all talk in the room. Several people gathered to watch her descend, whispering in hushed awe. Oliver didn't even notice Percy Weasley who had appeared at his elbow.
"Oliver what are you doing here? How did you get in? You shouldn't be here." Oliver didn't listen. He walked forward to meet Aquila, who had a gentle loving smile for him. He took her hand and kissed it. Chatter burst across the entrance hall. He supposed together they must have looked like an interesting couple. Percy Weasley darted forward before Olive even had a chance to say anything to Aquila.
"Oliver, what are you doing?! You can't be here, and you need to leave Aquila alone. Her Durmstrang boyfriend might be here. We don't want any trouble tonight. You need to leave! You look very lovely, by the way, Aquila. Fetching frock." A nervous laugh escaped Aquila at Percy's words.
"You can't be serious right now Percy." Oliver shook his head.
Aquila got that wicked grin, and he dreaded what was going to happen.
"You know he's right, Oliver. You can't be here. My boyfriend is waiting for me." She started to laugh as soon as she said it. Percy looked very smug.
"You must leave the Hogwarts grounds I'm afraid. This is terribly embarrassing for you." Percy sounded absolutely delighted with himself. Aquila sighed.
"Percy, darling. Lighten up. Oliver is actually my date. We're wearing matching colours. I invited him here, so you can't kick him off the grounds. You don't have that authority, I'm afraid. I'm a member of staff here. I can have any friend here that I like." She took Oliver's arm, and gave Percy a simpering smile. She towered above Oliver tonight, but he didn't care. He leaned up and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "If you see my Durmstrang boyfriend, tell him I'm cheating on him with the most attractive boy that's ever gone to Hogwarts." Aquila led Oliver away from the gaping Weasley. Once they were far enough away, she burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh my goodness… He really doesn't want to believe…" she gasped, between laughs.
"Do you really think that about me?" Oliver asked, very quietly.
"What?" Her tone was bright and bubbly.
"Do you really think I'm the most attractive boy that's gone to Hogwarts?" It made Oliver blush to even say it aloud. Her face turned serious then.
"A lot of people harp on about Cedric. Whatever. He hasn't got a patch on you. With you bone structure and your gorgeous eyes… You could cut diamonds with those cheekbones. You've beautiful skin, and gorgeous hair. You're tall and well built. You're an absolute Adonis, Oliver. You're exceptionally attractive. You're in a different league to the rest of the world." She sounded breathless by the time she had finished. He could only stare at her, blinking, uncomprehending. He didn't know what he had going for him that would make him attractive. It just wasn't that important to him. "That's what everyone sees when they look at you. I see it too, for the most part. But I'm lucky enough to know the person you are underneath that." She put a hand on the back of his neck, and leaned down to rest her forehead on his.
"Aquila… You look incredible tonight. I love you." he whispered. He could see her smile. "I think we're putting everyone else to shame tonight. You look like a Princess, and I look like a ruggedly handsome Scotsman." he said, feigning worry.
"I've noticed. And so has every Beauxbatons girl in the vicinity. I saw them staring at you and giggling. I heard what they were saying." she teased.
"Oh my god, what were they saying?" He was suddenly mortified.
"They were admiring how handsome you were. Swooning over your legs. Commenting on how well your fill out your clothes. Trying to psyche each other up to go and speak to you. It was all rather amusing." She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but laugh.