Off to the Right Start… Sort of
Emmie casually sipped at her orange juice the next morning, going over her class schedule as she waited for the others to arrive. Being in quidditch, she was often an early riser - much more so than her roommates - getting up to run laps around the pitch or work out before breakfast to keep in form when they weren't practicing.
Of course, it didn't help her roommates that there had been a bit of a shindig the night before among the upper years in their common room, with everyone happy to be back together and eager to catch up on their summers. While she was usually down for a good party in the common room, she wanted to get her school year off to a strong start that didn't involve being incredibly tired or hungover on the first day of class. Not when her Monday and Wednesday schedules were rather full as it was.
Plus, she was a prefect. It wouldn't do if she got tipsy the first night back. What sort of example would that set for the others? Emmie stopped eating for a moment at that thought. Merlin, she was sounding more like Percy Weasley. Chuckling to herself, she returned to eating and memorizing her schedule.
She wasn't sure what she was thinking by keeping so many N.E.W.T. classes, but it was too late now. Between class and quidditch, she was beginning to worry she'd actually have a life this year. So much for new, confident Emmie getting out there and having fun.
"Blimey, must it be so noisy here?" Kara asked as she plopped on the bench next to her, grimacing as she glared at the room around her. Emmie chuckled and glanced at her before returning to her meal. Even if she was hungover, Kara still managed to have her hair and makeup done flawlessly and her uniform perfectly unwrinkled. Despite getting up earlier, Emmie had only managed a bit of gloss and had her hair pulled half back so she wouldn't have to mess with styling it.
"It's not that noisy. You're just hungover," she replied with an amused smile. "Better hope there's a recipe for a hangover potion in our text this year." Kara just glared at her as Melanie and Toni sat across from them, both looking equally as tired.
"I know for a fact you have a store of tonic from your brother. Just need to find where you're hiding it and then raid it," she replied, her voice low. Emmie just shrugged.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said lightly, thankful that she did have it hidden away along with a few other potions and tonics that Alex had slipped her before she returned home after her visit. In a place where none of her roommates were likely to find them - they had a bad habit of raiding her store dry and she hoped to get through the first term before needing more. Granted Alex had gifted her with a lecture on drinking responsibly as he handed her the package, then made her swear that she didn't get it from him if their parents discovered it.
"Why are you so cheerful?" Toni asked, starting to fill her plate as Melanie pulled out her class schedule and then put her hand out. The three others obliged by placing their class schedules in her hand. "We've got potions today. And transfiguration. You know McGonagall is not going to take it easy on us this year."
"I got a decent night's sleep," Emmie said, causing Toni to roll her eyes slightly before looking over the schedules that Melanie now had spread out on the table before her.
"Blimey, how many classes are you taking this year?" Melanie asked, looking up at her. "Arithmacy? You know just because you get high enough marks on your O.W.L.s doesn't mean you have to keep every subject."
"I seriously had to talk her out of keeping on with runes and divination. Otherwise, we'd never see her," Kara interjected. "Besides, I thought you were planning to go pro like Alex and your dad? Didn't think quidditch players needed a heavy school load."
"We don't know that I'll get signed. Good to have options," Emmie said casually before taking a bite of eggs.
"Merlin, you sound like your mum," Kara said, causing Emmie to chuckle.
"Decent summer, MacKenzie?" Roger Kite, a boy in their year, asked as he passed by the group, shooting a smooth smile at her.
"Decent enough," Emmie replied, returning it as she felt a bit of a jolt of excitement through her. She then turned back to her friends who were all staring at her with grins. "What?"
"I swear she's completely clueless," Kara said with a sigh.
"I am not," Emmie retorted.
"He's never really spoken to you before," Toni said. "Kite totally fancies you."
"He's just being friendly," Emmie replied, looking back at her plate as she felt her cheeks heat up. Blimey, was it really that big a deal? Not every bloke that talked to her fancied her. She actually got on rather well with the seventh years, granted that was mostly because half of them were on the quidditch team. And all of them mostly treated her like a sister. She wouldn't lie - it was nice to finally get noticed a bit, even if she wasn't completely sure how to handle it just yet. And she was starting to get annoyed by her friends teasing her about it.
"Sure… that's it," Melanie replied.
"Got your practice schedule, Mac," a tall, blonde seventh-year boy said, plopping down next to Emmie and causing her face to light up. She looked over at Thomas Fincher, the Hufflepuff captain. He held out a piece of parchment for her and waited as she looked it over, his face meaning business. While she was enjoying the attention to an extent, she was grateful that nothing had changed with her captain. At least nothing that would give her friends more fodder for breakfast. She had already had enough for one meal as it was.
"Just two times a week?" she asked, glancing at him with an eyebrow raised. Fincher sighed and looked over to the other side of the room.
"For now. Slytherin's booked it more than usual, at least for the first term. New seeker," he replied, obviously not happy with the news. Emmie glanced over at the table, seeking Flint sitting with the rest of the team, their heads close to each other.
"Who?" she asked.
"Malfoy," he said blandly.
"Has he ever played?" Emmie asked, completely baffled by the change in lineup as she looked back at Fincher. The previous seeker had been rather good. Was Flint really that stupid? While she thought he was an idiot in most things, she at least thought he was smarter when it came to quidditch.
"Malfoy's dad bought the lot of them a round of new Nimbus 2001s," Fincher said, his frown deepening.
"Blimey. Even my Da wouldn't get me one of those," she said, slightly in awe as she looked back over at the team. "Can't imagine how much it cost to get a whole team of them."
"No matter. Diggory's still loads better," Fincher replied, looking back at her. "Just hope you learned a lot at your training camp." Emmie couldn't help but smile at him.
"Just wait until first practice. Alex showed me loads of tricks that I'm eager to use in a match," she said, a wicked grin now filling her face. Her captain returned the grin.
"What's what I like to hear. Especially since Gryffindor's got a strong team again this year," he replied. He then patted her on the shoulder and stood. "I'm off. See you later. Remember, first practice is next week." He turned and walked over to his friends, sitting down as a couple of them glanced down at their group and then leaning towards him, whispering furiously. Emmie turned her attention back over to the Slytherin table, frowning slightly before she returned to eating. She had tried to talk her father into getting her a Nimbus 2001 over the summer, but he had refused, saying she had a perfectly good Nimbus 2000. Wasn't fair, sometimes. While she wasn't sure how strong the Slytherin team would be that year, having a round of spanking new brooms certainly didn't hurt their chances.
"Cedric Diggory, now that is a fit man," Melanie said with a sigh. Emmie chuckled as she looked over at her friend, who now had her chin in her hand as she looked down the table at the seeker in question sitting with a group of his friends.
"He's in fifth year," Emmie replied as she glanced over at him. She supposed he was rather good-looking when she thought about it. But being on the quidditch team with him, she never really thought of him like that. Again, she always thought of the blokes more like brothers than anything. Likely because she had grown up with an older brother who played.
"So? We're only a year older," Melanie replied. "I can look, can't I? And appreciate." Emmie just shook her head as she chuckled. It was becoming clear that her friends only had one thing on their minds that year. Teen hormones at their finest.
"Besides, not all of us are obsessed with quidditch… or handsome quidditch captains," Toni added, waggling her eyebrows at Emmie.
"I'm not obsessed with him!" she exclaimed loudly, though quickly glanced around, hoping that no one had heard her. She glanced over at the Gryffindor table on the other side of the room, seeing Wood sitting with the other sixth years in Gryffindor, plus a few of the quidditch team. He was laughing at something the twins had done or said. Blimey, he looked even better when he laughed.
"You so are. You can't stop staring at him," Kara replied. Emmie whipped her head back around, frowning at her.
"Am not," she said, holding her nose up in the air slightly as she grabbed her bag and stood. "I'll see you lot in transfiguration." She then turned and strode off, leaving the three laughing in her wake.
There was still a good ten minutes left before class started when Emmie settled in her desk in the transfiguration room. She hadn't meant to get there so early but couldn't stand another second of her friends teasing her about her crush on Wood, even though they had spent the better part of the last five years doing so. She reckoned it would only get worse this year if they were serious about their quest to get them together. She almost snorted to herself - like that would happen.
"Bloody annoying friends," she muttered as she pulled out her book and threw it on her desk before yanking it open to the first chapter.
"You should try being friends with the twins," a deep voice said from her side. Emmie shot up and turned, seeing Wood walk in and sit in the desk in front of her. She could feel her cheeks heat up and prayed to Merlin that she wasn't blushing at the moment. "Have a good summer? Heard from Ryan that you spent some time with Alex and the Wanderers." Emmie nodded quickly, willing herself to speak without stuttering, though the other part of her was screaming.
Was Wood talking to her? Again? This was the most he had said to her in the last five years combined. Did he get hit to the head with a bludger over the summer? Last time he had actually talked to her first was sometime around second year and it was to ask her something about her brother. Since then, it was a few words here or there whenever they happened to both be hanging out with their brothers or families. But the last time they had actually been alone and spoke more than a few words was when they were kids.
"Y-yea, did two weeks with him in Wigtown. Coach let us use the pitch since they were on break," she said, finding her voice a bit squeakier than usual, though at least she wasn't stuttering as much. She cleared her throat and smiled slightly, hoping it didn't look like a grimace.
"Sounds brilliant. Suppose he taught you a lot of tricks for the season? I'll have to watch out," he replied, smiling warmly at her. Emmie found herself getting lost a bit. Merlin, he had a good smile. Wait, no. Stop it, Emmie, she told herself. Stay cool.
"Surely nothing that revolutionary," she said, somehow managing to keep her voice even. "You've got all your brilliant plays and all. I know Ryan helps you a lot as well." Wood chuckled.
"Nothing that special," he said, his cheeks turning slightly pink. Emmie couldn't help as her eyes widened. Did she - Emmie MacKenzie - just make Oliver Wood - Gryffindor Quidditch God - blush? Couldn't be. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her. "Do anything else fun over the break?"
"Mum and Dad took us on holiday a bit. And then I hung out with Kara and the others when I wasn't training," she replied, nervously playing with her quill. Oliver nodded and started to open his mouth.
"There you are!" Kara exclaimed as she sat next to Emmie, effectively cutting off Oliver from whatever he was about to say. "Good to see you, Wood."
"You too, Watkins," Oliver replied, nodding towards her. Percy Weasley then sat next to him and he turned around, his attention now on his roommate. Emmie couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed with Kara's interruption. She was just having her first real conversation with Oliver in years and now he was busy chatting with Percy after Kara had cut him off. Of course, then she couldn't help but smile slightly.
She had just had a nearly complete conversation with Oliver Wood.
"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" Kara whispered, her eyes bright. Emmie shoved her slightly, glancing nervously towards Oliver and Percy.
"Shut it," she hissed softly. "Not here."
"You were flirting with him," she said, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.
"He just asked me about my summer. Quidditch stuff," Emmie whispered half-heartedly. She knew she'd tell Kara all the details - she seriously wanted to - but she didn't particularly want to discuss them while he was sitting just in front of her.
"Sure," Kara replied, her eyes dancing. She opened her mouth to say more, when there was a thud behind them, causing both to jump slightly and turn around. Flint and Pucey had just occupied the desk behind them.
"Good to see you, MacKenzie," Flint said, leering at her slightly. Emmie frowned as she immediately spun back around to her book, deciding it was best to ignore him for the time being. "Looking forward to rounds tomorrow night." Emmie bristled slightly as she saw Kara scowl at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Just an hour and we're supposed to be working," Emmie replied without looking at him.
"Ah, but there's so much we can get up to in an hour," he replied.
"Ugh, gross, Flint," Kara said.
"Wasn't talking to you, Watkins," he said, frowning at her. Kara just huffed and turned back around as Professor McGonagall walked into the classroom, effectively cutting off all other conversation.
"Class, I trust that you completed your summer homework…"
Later that night, Emmie collapsed on one of the large, fluffy sofas in the Hufflepuff common room, loosening her tie. They still had astronomy to get to that night, but all in all, it was a decent first day back. Even if she had homework from every class.
What's more, she had spoken to Oliver. More than just a few words. And he had started it. And she hadn't stuttered the whole time. Perhaps this would be the year that changed everything. Maybe she could be the new, confident Emmie that she had just started learning about over the summer.
"I know that smile. You're thinking about your conversation with Wood, aren't you?" Kara said, sitting next to her. She couldn't help but grin as she looked over at her.
"He started talking to me first," she said, sitting up.
"Looks as though Operation Get Wood is a go," Kara said with a laugh.
"Could we please call it something else? Or rather, no operation? Maybe just see how it goes," Emmie said with a slight groan. "Besides, he could have just been acting nice. We were friends once upon a time."
"Correction - your brothers are friends and he worshipped them, hence followed them around everywhere. He only tolerated you as a child," Kara said. "Before you argue with me, I was there. I know. He wasn't mean, per say, just… saw you as the annoying younger sister more often than not. This is a massive improvement, meaning he must be crushing on you."
"Or… he's actually grown up a bit and realized that we can be friends again. Besides, I thought all guys went through an 'I hate girls' stage?" Emmie replied. Kara just rolled her eyes.
"Stop trying to talk yourself down. There's absolutely no reason why he wouldn't be interested in you," she said. "Especially now…" She glanced down at Emmie's new form, causing her to blush.
"Forgive me if I hope he likes me for me and not because I've supposedly had some sort of miraculous transformation also known as puberty," Emmie said, studying her nails. Kara sighed and leaned her head on Emmie's shoulder.
"So, what are you going to do about Flint?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Avoid him when possible," she said immediately.
"And when you can't?"
"Make the best of it," Emmie replied glumly. "Hope he isn't too horrid." Kara snorted.
"If class was anything to go by, he's going to be absolutely wretched," she said.
"I don't understand. He's barely said a word to me at all and now suddenly he's gone all barmy," Emmie said. Kara just stared at her. "Seriously, not that again-"
"Look, if he gets too fresh with you, just knee him in the bollocks and walk away," Kara said. "I can show you a few of my favorite jinxes and hexes as well." Emmie looked over at her, her eyebrows raised.
"I'd rather hope it won't come to violence," she said.
"For someone who's brutal on the pitch, you are a bit of a pansy off it," Kara said.
"That's different. It's quidditch. You have to be brutal," Emmie said, frowning.
"Yes, and sometimes life calls for it as well. I'm just saying that you should know how to protect yourself just in case," Kara pushed. Emmie sighed and shook her head.
"Suppose it wouldn't hurt," she said. Kara grinned as she sat up and then stood, pulling Emmie up with her.
"We'll start now. We've got an hour before astronomy," she said, pulling Emmie over to a large, rather empty corner of the room.
"But I have homework!" Emmie exclaimed with a laugh.
"It can wait. Self-defense is more important. Especially since it's clear we're going to learn nothing in defense against the dark arts," Kara replied.
"Got that right," Emmie said with a chuckle, thinking to their first class with Professor Lockhart. He had spent the entire class time introducing himself and they hadn't actually learned anything remotely related to defense.
"Now, first of all, we should start with a bat-bogey hex…"
Well, since I tipsy posted this story, might as well keep up with it… Seriously need to stop with the Oliver Wood stories. Oh! And for those interested, once a week I'm doing a livestream on Twitch with my friend called "Wining about FanFic." Basically, the two of us drinking wine, talking about fanfiction, reading some of the stories we like. We also do a writing challenge every week. Next week we're going to highlight two HP fanfics each – the challenge is to find two non-smutty romance stories featuring an OTP and NOTP. Tune in and see all the shenanigans we have going on.
TheLittleTigeress – Thanks! I'm glad that you like it! Honestly, I'm surprised it took me this long to do a Hufflepuff protagonist.
cjconner326 – Haha! Yea, I was writing, drinking wine, and chatting with my friend that I do the stream with and just thought, eh. Why not? Mostly, I'm just using a lot of the story line from the original and including a lot of the scenes/ideas that I had it that one – the one I seriously am happy to include is a funny scene during Lockhart's Valentine's Day shenanigans. Outside that, it's pretty different. Emmie does have some traits close to the original Sam – namely she's known for being super nice and she's a chaser on the quidditch team. But outside that, they are different. Even original Sam was pretty confident, while Emmie is deathly shy. As I've said, she is based a lot of myself in high school – I could not talk to guys I liked to save my life and still flub up my words when I get nervous. And I got a recent review on Sam that I have to agree with, so this is me trying to redeem myself it that regard, partially, haha! And, well, I am a Hufflepuff, so about time I wrote a Hufflepuff story!
Thanks for reading and following, everyone!
