Of Studying and Quidditch

Emmie sighed as she dropped her heavy bag into a chair in the library glancing around the mostly empty room. She preferred coming there early on Saturday mornings. While her roommates groaned about her waking them up when they were trying to sleep in, she wanted to get her homework done so she could spend the rest of the weekend either hanging out or on the pitch with a clear conscience. So, she had lugged all her books up for breakfast and then dragged herself to the library. Though she couldn't help but look around, worried that Flint was lurking around. While he had watched himself for the remainder of their patrol last night, she couldn't help but notice he had a habit of popping up when she least expected it.

Of all the boys to bloody take notice of her this year. And they were only a few days in. Maybe he would get bored and move on to the next conquest soon. As far as Emmie could remember, he never stayed with one girl for very long. She just needed to suck it up for a couple more weeks until the novelty of it wore off.

Bending over, Emmie pulled out all her class books, then parchment, quills and ink, placing them on the table before arranging them in the order she planned to do them. She'd start with potions, since that was her least favorite subject, and then work through arithmacy, transfiguration, defense against the dark arts, and then skim through the first chapter of her apparition book in preparation for the first class on Monday. She had already read it over the summer - eager to learn how to do it so she could take the test next spring as soon as she turned 17 - but wanted to refresh her memory.

"Figured I'd find you here, Mac," Fincher said, walking up to her. Emmie looked up and smiled.

"Just getting homework out of the way," she replied. He nodded, glancing down at the books.

"Thinking we should have a meeting tomorrow afternoon in the common room. Need to do trials for chaser since Edwin quit," he replied. "Thought you and Diggory would help out with that since you'll be the only two returning next year. Your input matters more than the rest of the team."

Emmie nodded her approval. Seemed he was preparing Diggory to take over. While part of her was slightly hurt that he wasn't considering her, she also knew she wasn't really cut out for leading the team. Fincher easily put hours upon hours into coming up with plays, training schedules and strategies that she just didn't have the mind for. Not to mention, there were going to be a lot of open spots to fill next year which would mean a total overhaul of the team. They weren't particularly bad as it was, but their best players were graduating that year and she wasn't completely sure what they would have to work with.

"What time were you thinking?" she asked.

"About 2 pm do it for you?" he asked. She nodded. "Good. What did Alex have you working on this summer?" She couldn't help but grin.

"Had me working on the Dionysus Dive, actually," she replied. Fincher's eyebrows rose slightly.

"Isn't that a bit advance for Hogwarts?" he asked. Emmie just shrugged.

"Need to get it down before the scouts and trials next year," she replied. "Need some fancy tricks if I'm going to get into the League." He nodded and glanced at her books again.

"Well, I'm eager to see everything Monday night. I'll let you get to work," he then waved and moved off to another table with a group of seventh years as Emmie moved to sit down. She reached for her notes and potions book, glancing over exactly what she was supposed to be writing for her essay and trying to figure out if she needed to go search for any other books to help.

She had just opened her book to the right chapter when she heard someone clear their throat. Looking up, her eyes widened and she could feel the blush starting to fill her cheeks. Oliver stood there with his bag slung over his shoulder and an easy smile on his face.

"Was wondering… mind if I sit? Figured you were working on the same homework and I could use some help," he said, motioning towards the open chair across from her. Emmie blinked, unable to speak for a moment as she glanced over and saw Fincher watching them. "Don't worry. I'm not here to steal any secrets about the Hufflepuff team."

Emmie looked back at him and nodded, finding that safer than opening her mouth and stuttering again. She swallowed as he sat down, throwing his bag in the chair next to him, then started pulling out his books.

"You and Perce fare well with your potion yesterday?" he asked, glancing over at her.

"Y-yea. H-honestly, I think being paired with him is going to save my marks this year," she said, finally finding her voice. Oliver chuckled.

"Yea, I get him to help me out a lot. He may be harsh sometimes with his criticism, but it helps in the end," he said.

"B-but I thought you were near the top of the class," Emmie said, wondering just why Oliver would need any help with his homework. Especially from her. She was decidedly somewhere in the middle. And he was roommates with Percy Weasley.

"How do you think I got there? Percy and lots of late nights studying," he replied. Emmie nodded and looked down at her book, willing her heart to stop racing. That was interesting. She had assumed he spent all his spare time on quidditch. "Though I feel like defense against the dark arts is going to be my easiest class all year." Emmie couldn't help but chuckle.

"Just watch Lockhart flounce around reliving his glory days and you pretty much know what's going to be on the test," she said, finally able to still her stuttering. "I'm a bit relieved. That's usually my worst subject."

Yes, she could do this. She could make it through a couple hours of studying with Oliver and not get flustered. One step at a time and all. Look at her. She was already doing so well. She wasn't stuttering anymore, at least.

"Why's that?" Oliver asked, pausing in opening his book as he looked over at her. Emmie glanced up at him and shrugged.

"Kara says it's because I'm a big pansy who doesn't like hurting anyone, even if it's someone trying to jinx or hex me," she replied, surprising herself with her own candor.

"Really? Doesn't seem that way when you're on the pitch. You take knocks and dish them out as good as the rest of them," he replied. Emmie started to blush again before reminding herself that he was the Gryffindor captain. It was his job to watch all the other teams and learn their playing styles. Nothing special about his comment on how she played at all.

"Well that's quidditch," she said sensibly. "It's different." Oliver thought this over before nodding.

"Suppose that makes sense," he replied.

The two turned to their work for a bit, realizing they'd get nothing done while sitting and talking. Emmie could help but continue to glance over at him every so often, when she was sure that he wasn't paying attention. Oliver was bent over his potions book, brow furrowed and lips moving slightly as he read.

He really had only gotten more handsome over the summer, she had to admit to herself. He seemed taller - if that were even possible, he was always tall - with his skin still tan from being on a pitch all break. And his hair was a bit longer, curling slightly at the ends.

Emmie snapped her eyes back to her paper, lest she get caught up and end up staring at him the entire time. He would definitely catch her and she wasn't sure how to explain that away. But she couldn't help but wonder why he was sitting across from her. Or why he was suddenly finding all these opportunities to talk to her. It was a bit odd, she had to admit.

At the back of her mind, she could hear Kara screaming that it was because he fancied her, but Emmie was realistic. There's no way that could be. Maybe it had something to do with their brothers.

"What was that?" Oliver asked. Emmie looked up at him, her eyes wide. She hadn't realized that she snorted in response to the thought about Kara.

"Ah, oh, ehm… just… going through my notes, I remembered a joke that Percy said in class yesterday when we were working on our hiccuping solution," she said, feeling her cheeks heat up. Oliver stared at her a moment, a small, perplexed smile on his face.

"Percy? Told a joke? In class?" he asked. Emmie nodded quickly and prayed that he wouldn't ask her what it was.

"Pun, really," she continued.

"Sounds more like him than a joke," Oliver said, returning to his book. Emmie sighed in relief as she went back to work. He glanced up at her and looked back down at the page a bit. "You wouldn't by chance understand this bit, would you?" He lifted up the book and turned it, pointing to a passage.

Emmie looked over, reading through it. It was a section that Percy had thankfully broken down for her yesterday.

"Oh, yes. It's simple, really… once you figure it out..."


Emmie felt like she was floating when she went back to the common room later. She had somehow managed to get through all her homework, despite being distracted by Oliver nearly the whole time. Their conversation stayed strictly within the realm of their classwork, but she hadn't minded.

She had just spent two whole hours with Oliver Wood and hadn't stuttered all that much. Perhaps she really was capable of being new, confident Emmie this year.

"What's got you in a daze?" Kara asked as Emmie sat next to her on a sofa. Melanie and Toni immediately turned their attention to her from where they were sitting on the floor reading magazines. Emmie sighed happily.

"Oh, nothing. Just did my homework in the library as I usually do… though Wood was there," she said. The girls stared at each other a few moments in shock and then squealed loudly as they leaned towards her. Emmie winced slightly at the sound but couldn't help but continue to smile.

"Tell us everything," Melanie ordered.

"Did he sit beside you?" Toni asked.

"No, across from me," Emmie said.

"Please tell me you talked about something other than class," Melanie said.

"It was mostly class, though there was a bit of quidditch mixed in," Emmie admitted.

"No matter. Sure, this was all good and well for Operation Get Wood," Kara replied, her eyes dancing.

"Could you please stop saying that?" Emmie groaned, looking over at her best friend. "Someone is going to overhear you and get the wrong idea."

"What? That you're trying to get into Wood's pants? I thought that was the idea," Kara said with a smirk. Emmie rolled her eyes.

"Not the idea," she retorted. "I just… want to get to know him a bit…"

"See if he'll ask you to Hogsmeade and all," Melanie added. "Bet you he asks you for the first weekend. It's coming up soon for us." Emmie glanced over at her.

"You think he might?" she asked, not fully believing that he would. Melanie shrugged.

"You said yourself that he's been initiating all the conversations so far. Don't think it would be that far-fetched to think he might ask you," she replied.

"But it's been mostly about class and quidditch," Emmie replied, causing her three friends to roll their eyes. She was still clearly in denial and trying to talk herself out of the idea that Wood just might find her interesting.

"Say, Mac. Could I talk to you a bit?" Cedric asked as he walked up to the group. Instantly, Melanie straightened up and flashed him a bright smile. Emmie looked over at him and nodded, pushing up from the sofa.

"Hi, Cedric," Melanie crooned.

"Ehm, hello," he said, bobbing his head towards her and Toni, offering them a nervous smile, before Emmie led him off a bit.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"Was just wondering if we could meet up later this afternoon and go over some things before the team meeting tomorrow. Maybe compare suggestions for the chaser replacement? Also… I seem to have lost my copy of the practice schedule," he said.

"Sure, no problem," she said warmly. "I can copy mine and give it to you."

"Great. After lunch work for you?" he asked, smiling in relief. Emmie found herself thrown for a second. When he smiled, she could almost understand why Melanie and Toni were constantly swooning over him.

"Sure," she said. He then nodded and walked over to the door that led down to the boys' dormitories, stopping before he went through to flash her another smile. Emmie walked back over to the girls and sat.

"Suddenly wishing I had taken up quidditch," Melanie said with a dramatic sigh as she leaned her head on Emmie's leg. Emmie chuckled as she looked down at her.

"You declared that you'd never get back up on a broom as long as you lived after falling on your arse during flying class first year," she retorted.

"Could have gotten over my fear," Melanie whined as she shot Emmie a look. "Maybe not…"

"So, you and Diggory meeting up? Think that works lovely for Operation Get Wood. Seeing you off chatting with another good-looking bloke will surely make him jealous," Toni said. Emmie rolled her eyes and stood, grabbing her bag. "Oh, come on, Emmie! You know I'm right!"

"I am not subjecting myself to more of your scheming," she said, glancing over her shoulder as she walked towards the girls' dormitories.

"It's not scheming!" Toni shouted back. Emmie just shook her head as she laughed and kept walking.

"I honestly don't think she needs scheming," Kara said after she had left, a grin on her face. Toni and Melanie looked over at her. "For whatever reason, I think Oliver Wood's decided this year to pay attention to our little Emmie."

"She's growing up so fast," Melanie said, pretending to dab at a tear in her eye. Toni and Kara just dissolved into giggles.


Oliver couldn't help as he continued to glance towards the Hufflepuff table across the room throughout lunch, catching sight of Emmie with her friends, laughing and joking about something. He always wondered what the Hufflepuff common room was like. Every Hufflepuff he had ever known seemed so warm and friendly, always laughing and smiling and such, that he wondered if there was something about their common room that had them perpetually in a good mood.

"You're doing it again," Percy said softly. Oliver glanced over at him, frowning, though said nothing.

"Say, captain," Fred said from where he sat across and down a ways from Oliver and Percy.

"When are we starting on the pitch?" George asked.

"Next week," Oliver said, glancing down at the few other team members sitting with them - namely Angelina, Katie and Alicia.

"Good. We're eager to hear whatever tips on MacKenzie you have," Fred said, grinning.

"Yea, we assume that's what was going on when we saw you with her in the library this morning. Reconnaissance," George added, his grin matching his brothers. Oliver nearly spit out his pumpkin juice as the rest of his friends around him looked on curiously.

"That was just… homework," he said, trying to clear his throat.

"Homework, was it?" Fred asked.

"You're sure?" George added.

"Yes," Oliver wheezed.

"But you never do your homework on Saturday mornings," Alicia Spinnet said from next to him, a confused look on her face. "Usually me, Percy or Reed have to remind you to finish it up on Sunday night." The twins started laughing.

"Thought I'd get a head start this weekend," Oliver said, scowling at the twins. "Set up some new habits."

"Interesting new habit. Who else do we know, George, that likes to do their homework in the library first thing on Saturday morning?" Fred asked, looking at his brother.

"Loads of people," Oliver shot at them, causing them to start laughing again as Percy rolled his eyes. Thankfully, they took a look at his glare and decided to turn their teasing elsewhere as Oliver settled back into eating. Though he couldn't help but glance over at the Hufflepuff table again. Emmie was shaking her head, her ponytail flying behind her as her eyes were lit up over something.

Percy cleared his throat next to him. Oliver glanced at him, frowning and then returned to his food.

"Wood, who you thinkin' about asking to Hogsmeade?" Ian Reed, another sixth year, asked from across from Oliver, glancing at the twins before turning back to Oliver.

"Wasn't really thinking about asking anyone," Oliver replied honestly. He had considered asking Emmie, but decided not to, figuring she was probably going with her friends. And he wasn't sure just how to fill up an entire afternoon with her, to be honest. Doing homework with her this morning was one thing - they didn't say much and when they did talk it was about class. Outside of school and quidditch, he realized that he didn't really know much about her interests anymore and worried that they'd run out of things to talk about. Which would be devastatingly embarrassing in his book.

"Come on, if I know you, you've already got someone in mind," Ian replied, a grin on his face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the twins suddenly intent on listening in. Bugger.

"Not really," Oliver said. "It's the first visit of the year. Haven't been here all that long. Spent the summer training or with my family as well."

"You know Lila Deloitte's been asking about you," Ian said, leaning towards him with a grin. Oliver shrugged. She was a pretty and popular Gryffindor, but he didn't really feel one way or another about her. Ian sighed and sat back down. "Once again, the only thing on his mind is quidditch."

"So? We've got to prepare for the season," Oliver shot back.

"You'd probably marry a quaffle if it were legal," Ian replied.

"Would not," Oliver said. "I've had girlfriends."

"None since first term last year," Alicia pointed out. "What's her name?"

"Meredith Kyle. Ravenclaw," Ian answered. "And it was only for a couple weeks."

"But wasn't there something going on with Maria Lionel?" Angelina asked, jumping into the conversation. "Second term?"

"No. She only spread it around that they were snogging, but it wasn't true," Alicia replied.

"I am sitting right here, you know," Oliver said gruffly, looking around the table at his friends.

"Don't know about you lot, but I'm thinking about asking Emmie MacKenzie," Ian said, glancing over his shoulder at the Hufflepuff table. "Wonder why I never noticed her before." Oliver's eyebrows shot up.

"Probably because either her brother or Wood's would have beat you up for it," Walter Shiresmith, another of Oliver's roommates, said from next to Ian, glancing over at her as well. "Still think half the blokes are worried Alex'll murder them even though he graduated." Ian looked over at him, his face paling slightly.

"You don't think he would?" he asked.

While Alex MacKenzie was still held in reverence among the Gryffindors, he also still put the fear of Merlin in any boy who so much as looked at his little sister or spoke about her in a disrespectful way. Oliver's older brother Ryan hadn't been any better.

"Reckon he's got a spy here somewhere," Walter said casually. "No one's messed with her even though they aren't here, so assume they've got someone doing their work." Oliver choked on his food slightly as Percy shot him a look.

"Doesn't seem to be working on Flint, though," Alicia said. Oliver whipped his head over to look at her. "Merlin, he can't seem to leave her alone in class when he gets the chance. And I overheard her complaining about doing patrol with him. All innuendos and such. Feel for her, really. MacKenzie's always been really sweet. Shy and naive, but sweet."

Oliver immediately whipped his head around to the Slytherin table, seeing Flint laughing at something Warrington said, though his dark eyes were firmly on the Hufflepuff table. He couldn't help as his blood slowly started to boil as it usually did whenever he was around his arch nemesis or someone mentioned him. He had noticed the way Flint was always trying to hang around her - he even tried to sneak out to spy on them while they were doing rounds last night, but Percy had caught him and sent him back to their dorm. No amount of telling him that it was for Emmie's protection seemed to break through to him. Though eventually even he had to admit that it was borderline stalking and slightly creepy of him to do so.

"Well, don't think anyone has anything to worry about. Seems Diggory's beat everyone to it," he heard Fred say. Oliver looked over to the Hufflepuff table and watched as Diggory stood next to Emmie talking to her a bit before she stood and the two of them started out of the Great Hall together.

"Lucky git," Ian said.

Oliver didn't say anything, just watched as Emmie smiled up at Diggory and laughed at something.

Perhaps he was too late. But what did it matter? He wasn't interested in MacKenzie…


Okay, so I'm home and rested up from Comic Con, so planning to get to working on this one. I'm thinking about changing up some things later on in the story, but not completely sure yet. Suppose at this point, I'll just keep writing in chronological order and see where the story takes me. Thanks everyone who recently started following! I wasn't sure how well this story would go over, but I'm happy to see you guys are enjoying it. As mentioned, it's mostly an excuse to use a bunch of ideas I had for a previously posted story that I ended up tossing in re-writes. Though looking at it, it's becoming completely different from that original story.

BTW - Comic Con was amazing. Met a ton of really cool people, had fun dressing up, and had two really amazing interviews for my magazine with Billy Boyd and Pom Klementieff. Super nice, wonderful people. And part of me still can't believe that I actually met Billy Boyd (Pippin)...

Pamela Hutchins – Aw thanks!

cjconner326 – It is a learning curve. While I feel like I'm much better now, there are definitely times when I'm like, oh heavens... that was seriously awkward. Why did I say that? I get nervous and still flub up all my words.

nadia4245 – Haha, wait and see… there's going to be some twists.

Aphrodite-Venus-u.k – Honestly, Hufflepuff needs more stories. And there is more back and forth to come. ^_^

Thanks for reading!