The Charm Offensive

Emmie sat in the library going over her homework as quickly as she could. She was a bit sore from practice earlier, but only had about an hour before she had to meet up with Flint in Ravenclaw Tower for that night's patrol and didn't particularly want to be up later than necessary going over it afterwards. She had practically finished it during her break in between charms and practice, but still wanted to give it another look. Especially potions.

A thump had her looking up into the dark eyes of Flint as he put his books down on the table.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Saw you here as I was leaving. Figured since we don't have long until we start rounds, I'd join you so we can go together from here," he replied easily. Emmie just watched him as he pulled out his potions book and opened it. "Seriously, MacKenzie. I'm only going over my work for class tomorrow - not here to bother you."

She nodded wordlessly and looked back down at her parchment, going over her essay again. She was beginning to hate quills. It meant that for every mistake she found, she'd have to re-write the damn thing all over again. Perhaps she should have taken Percy up on his offer yesterday to do their work together.

"That your essay for potions?" Flint asked. Emmie glanced up at him and nodded. He sat up and held his hand out.

"What are you doing?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him suspiciously. Flint sighed and shook his head.

"Looking it over. From the look on your face, it seemed you were a bit confused about it," he said. Emmie just stared at him. "You know I'm near the top of the class, MacKenzie. I'm not going to muck it up."

She then handed over her parchment and continued to watch him closely as he looked it over.

"Not bad," he said after a bit, glancing up at her. "This Percy's help?"

"Did it myself, though he explained some things beforehand," Emmie replied. While she knew she needed Percy's help more often than not, she had been rather proud of herself for writing this one on her own. He nodded and looked back down at it.

"You're getting better," he said.

"Well… suppose that is thanks to Percy. Once you get past his gruffness, he's not bad," Emmie said, looking down at her book.

"I'm trying to give you a compliment, MacKenzie," he said, marking something down on the page and then handing it back. "That bit I underlined there - might want to double check the reading on it." Emmie glanced at it and then back up at him, studying him closely before turning her attention to the book. He was right. She had gotten part of the explanation off. She pulled out another piece of parchment and set to work re-writing, grateful that he had allowed her to figure out what exactly was wrong without just giving it to her. Percy often got frustrated and just told her the answer, but she preferred working through things herself. She remembered it better that way.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked suddenly, looking up at him. He just shrugged.

"Looked as though you needed it," he said, leaning back in his chair. "And as much as I don't mind watching you pore over your homework, I prefer talking to you more. This way you'll get done faster." She just blinked a bit and then returned to writing out her essay again, being sure to slow down when she got to the section that needed re-working.

As soon as she was done, she glanced over it again before rolling it up and putting it into her bag. She wasn't as eager to talk to Flint, though she was grateful to have her homework out of the way.

"I won't bite, MacKenzie," he said, she paused, waiting for the innuendo to come. When it didn't, she couldn't understand why. It had been some time now that he had dropped all the dirty talk around her. She couldn't for once believe that it was all real, but the longer it went on, the more confused she got. And the more she started to wonder if Flint was being genuine.

"I don't understand," she said. "Why are you being… nice?"

"Is it so hard to imagine that I could be a gentleman?" he asked in response, a small smile on his face. "Could tell it bothered you, so decided to lay off." Emmie narrowed her eyes at him slightly.

"Thought you enjoyed getting a rise out of me," she said.

"As fun as that was, as I said, I prefer getting to know you," he said. Emmie just stared at him. "I'm being serious." She sighed and looked over at the clock, seeing that it was time for them to head to the tower. She could already hear Madam Pince telling students to leave the library.

"Suppose we should head up," she said, gathering her books and bag.

They were mostly silent as they made their way to the tower, Emmie glancing over at him nervously. She wasn't completely convinced he wasn't up to something and kept about a foot away from him.

"What is it exactly about Wood that's got you in a tizzy?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. Emmie stopped and stared at him, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

"That's no of your business," she retorted. Flint just chuckled.

"It's obvious you feel some sort of way about him. I'm just curious what it is," he replied easily.

"I-I, no," she said.

"See? He's not even here and you're stuttering," Flint said. Emmie swallowed and looked forward, continuing to walk

"We're just friends," she said, willing her voice to stay steady. "We've known each other since we were bairns." Flint raised an eyebrow at her.

"And Diggory?" he pushed. Emmie frowned.

"Same," she said. "He's my teammate." Flint chuckled.

"I can see right through you, you know," he said, glancing at her. "If you want my advice, just tell him."

"Tell who what?" Emmie asked. Flint shrugged.

"Whichever one it is you fancy more," he replied. "It's fairly obvious they've both got some sort of feelings towards you." She snorted.

"Is not," she replied, though she remembered the day Cedric asked her to Hogsmeade. Well, that one was obvious. But certainly not Oliver. She still didn't think it was possible that he would fancy her.

But she couldn't help as her mind wandered to the two. She was starting to think that Cedric wasn't a bad bloke. Good-looking. Kind. And he obviously liked her. But then there was Oliver - she couldn't just push away all those years of fancying him.

Though she had to chuckle. This was an unlikely situation. There was no way both boys liked her at the same time. She was Emmie MacKenzie, after all. No one paid her mind. Nor was she having this conversation with Marcus Flint.

"If you're wondering why, I can tell you," he said. She looked at him. "You're kind. Pretty - more so this year than before. Damn good quidditch player. Decently smart. And there's nothin' fake about you." Emmie came to a stop again and looked up at him.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

"Because it's all the reasons why I fancy you. Assume it'd be the same for them," he replied. She could feel her cheeks heat up. "No reason to be embarrassed. It's the truth."

"I…," she stopped and then continued walking, unsure of what to say to him. She certainly did not have any feelings for the chaser, but for some reason it was harder to reject him this time around. Possibly because, dare she admit it, he was being vulnerable.

That was something she didn't expect.

"It's fine if you don't like me back. I understand why," he said. "Besides, I'm patient. I'll wait. And even if you do end up choosin' Wood or Diggory, suppose I'll just have to concede to the better man."

Emmie swallowed as she kept walking, her eyes scanning around and praying that they would run into someone - anyone - so that she didn't need to keep having this conversation with Flint.

Merlin, had everyone lost their mind?


Emmie sat at a table in the Hufflepuff common room, staring at the fire as she went over every second of her conversation with Flint. She didn't want to admit that it was bothering her, but it was. And it wasn't so much that he was up to something that bothered her, but more that she was actually starting to think he wasn't so bad.

"Out with it," Kara said, plopping down across from her. Emmie stared at her a moment and then sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

"Flint," she said simply. Kara immediately frowned.

"What did he do this time?" she asked.

"He was nice… again," she replied. "And gave me advice on-" She stopped and glanced around the common room. "You know who. Both of them."

"Well, I figured he was an observant bloke," Kara replied dryly. "You don't become quidditch captain without that. So, he's picked up on your little predicament with W-"

"SHH!" Emmie hissed, glancing around again. She didn't see Cedric, but he had a way of popping up when she least expected him to. Likely what made him a good seeker. Kara just smirked at her as she sat back in her chair.

"As I was saying, he's picked up on your situation," she replied.

"Is it really that obvious?" Emmie asked, her face paling slightly. Kara chuckled.

"To us, your friends, it is. Though suppose not so much to anyone outside our group," she said. "Up until this year, you could barely talk to any bloke outside of the quidditch team without blushing and stuttering. Now it's just a select few." Emmie just rolled her eyes and pulled her hair up into a messy bun, wanting to get it out of her face so she wouldn't be tempted to constantly run her fingers through it or twirl it in agitation.

"Well… he said he understands why they may fancy me," she said. Kara's smirk only grew. "I'm not saying I agree with him, just repeating what he said to me. And that it was because I was pretty and kind. And a good quidditch player. And decently smart." Kara snorted.

"Decently smart…" she said, rolling her eyes.

"He then said it was all the reasons why he liked me," she said, her cheeks flaring red. Kara just raised an eyebrow at her. "And then said even if I chose one of the others over him, then he'd concede defeat to the better man."

Kara didn't speak for a bit, instead sitting up in her chair and leaning towards Emmie.

"Well… this certainly is… interesting," she responded.

"What do I do?" Emmie asked, her eyes full of worry.

"Easy. Choose one," Kara replied. "We both know that you won't choose Flint, so get on with it on one of the others and he'll leave you alone."

"I can't," Emmie groaned, dropping her head onto her arms.

"And why's that?" Kara asked.

"Because… I can't," she said, her voice muffled. Kara rolled her eyes. Emmie was becoming impossible and it was driving her mad. Why the woman wouldn't just choose one of the two handsome blokes who obviously had a thing for her was beyond her.

Of course, she knew at least part of it. Emmie was skittish and scared. For all her talk about being the new, confident version of herself this year, it didn't change the fact that she had never had a boyfriend. And only had her first kiss over the summer. Not to mention, it was clear that Emmie wasn't sure about Oliver's feelings towards her and was too afraid to ask - even if it was clear to Kara that he was feeling something towards her shy friend. On the other hand, it was obvious that Cedric fancied her and this also had Emmie a bit scared, since she was struggling to determine just what it was she felt for him.

Kara had to remind herself that Emmie was different than them. Melanie, Toni and even herself wouldn't have hesitated to say yes to a date with a bloke they fancied. But Emmie had been sheltered so long, she likely wasn't sure what to do. And it was likely Kara's doing as well as her brother's. They had all coddled and protected her. So here she was at 16 and completely out of her wits over what to do when it came to boys.

"Look," Kara said softly, causing Emmie to look up at her. "It's fine to be confused. And you don't have to figure it all out now… Just… try not to think about it too much. You get in your own way when you think too much." Emmie smiled briefly and sat up. "And honestly, you don't have to choose any of them, if you don't want to."

"Of course, I always knew that was an option," Emmie replied, a bit of her confidence coming back. Kara chuckled and shook her head.

"Despite the fact we both know how much you do fancy at least one of them," Kara said. Emmie rolled her eyes. "But yea, you don't have to do or say anything if you don't want to."

"Then I suppose that's what I'll do… nothing… for now," Emmie said, looking down at her open book. "And as for Flint… I still don't trust a damn word he says. Even if it is confusing."

"That's the best advice I can give you there," Kara replied. "When has he ever been nice?"

"Never that I can recall," Emmie replied.

"Hey, Mac," a voice said, causing them both to look up. Cedric was standing there with his herbology book. "I heard you were decent at Herbology… think you could help me out with my homework?"

Emmie's eyes widened as her cheeks started turning pink.

"O-of course, Cedric," she said, starting to smile. Kara rolled her eyes and stood to leave them as Cedric sat down and opened his book, starting to go over whatever it was that was giving him trouble. Herbology seemed to be one of the few subjects that came naturally to Emmie.

"What's going on there?" Melanie asked as Kara walked over to her and Toni.

"Cedric asked for help with his homework," Kara said, crossing her arms in front of her as she watched the two. Once they got into the work, Emmie had relaxed considerably and was now intent on explaining whatever it was the seeker had trouble with.

"Still don't understand why she turned him down," Toni replied. "He's a decent bloke."

"You know Emmie," Kara replied. "She's as skittish as a newborn colt when it comes to boys. Still. Sure she said no because it took her by surprise more than anything."

"Tis true. And here I had thought our lessons were helping," Melanie replied with a sigh.

"We can teach her the words to say and how to bat her eyes and such," Kara said. "But only she can get over herself." She continued watching the two as Cedric said something that caused Emmie to smile and laugh. "But I do think that perhaps Diggory could be good for her."

"A starter boyfriend?" Toni asked, her amusement clear.

"Maybe? Or just… help her get out of her shell a bit more," Kara replied.

"I thought you were hellbent on Operation Get Wood," Melanie asked, glancing at her.

"I still think those two fancy each other, but even I know that neither of them are ready to admit it to themselves or each other just yet," Kara said lightly. "Don't worry. There's time for them to get out of their own ways." She then started towards the dorm. "Come on. Let's give them a bit of privacy."

"But I want to watch," Toni whined. Kara just shot her a look. "Fine…"


Flint whistled as he went down the stairs to his dorm and walked in. It was empty, save Adrian who was lying on his bed, a book in hand.

"How were rounds? Enjoy another chance to torture the poor Hufflepuff?" Adrian asked, not looking up from his book.

"Fairly good. I'm making progress, I think," Flint said as he walked over to his trunk and pulled off his robe, tossing that and his wand on his bed. Adrian looked over at him, raising an eyebrow in his direction.

"What makes you say that?" he asked.

"She's starting to trust me," Flint said, loosening his tie. Adrian snorted.

"I seriously doubt that. If anything, your sudden change of character is probably making her even more suspicious," Adrian replied, sitting up. Flint just smiled as he looked over at his best friend.

"You said yourself that I'd need to change my tactics," he said. "Even helped provide some of the information."

"Yea, but doing so the way you have is only going to confuse the poor girl," Adrian said.

"I'll wear her down eventually," Flint said.

"So your plan is to charm her into submission?" Adrian asked boredly, returning his eyes to his book as he lay back down.

"More or less," Flint replied, untucking his shirt and starting to undo the buttons. Adrian once again glanced over at him. He knew it likely wouldn't work. Even if Emmie MacKenzie wasn't head-over-heels for Oliver Wood, there was no way she'd ever be convinced that Flint's intentions towards her were anything but untoward.

"You think it won't work," Flint said, getting his attention.

"I don't," Adrian said, looking down at his book. "I was certain from the beginning that it's a lost cause."

"You doubt me?" Flint asked, starting to walk towards him, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as his shirt hung open. Adrian sighed as he put the book aside and sat up on the bed, rubbing his face.

"Your ways may work on the birds in Slytherin, but I don't think you've got the foggiest when it comes to any other house," Adrian replied. "Especially Emmie MacKenzie."

"So I should give up?" Flint asked, feeling his anger start to well up. Marcus Flint did not give up on a quarry. Adrian sighed and shrugged.

"Honestly, I think you should leave the poor girl alone," he replied. "Lest you want to piss off the whole Hufflepuff quidditch team, or worse, her brother." Flint snorted.

"Like he'd come back here," he replied, returning to his things and pulling his shirt off.

"I wouldn't put anything past Alex MacKenzie where his little sister is involved," Adrian said. "You remember what he did to that sixth year Slytherin that made her cry our third year? And that was just because he tripped her in the hallway. Imagine what he'll do to someone attempting to deflower her."

"Well, I'm not giving up yet," Flint said. "It is working, despite what you might say. She may be a bit confused at the moment, but I'll win her over eventually."

"And then what? Shag her and drop her like you do everyone else?" Adrian asked.

"I'll keep her around for a bit, but yea, that's the gist of it," Flint said, smiling over at him. Adrian just shook his head and picked up his book.

"Whatever, mate, your funeral," he said with a heavy sigh.


Hey folks! May not be posting as much the next week. I've got several articles to get done for the magazine and covering a ton of events this weekend. Not to mention, I've been distracted by the damn Sirius Black story. So, haven't been able to get as much work done on this one even though I'm still a good 10 chapters ahead in writing (got up to Chapt. 21 or 22 finished… and then two others from after that). But if I finish up my two articles for today, I'll try and work on it a bit and maybe post another chapter tomorrow morning if I have time before my rehearsal for an upcoming show. ^_^

Aphrodite-Venus-u.k – You know, I always wondered if there was some rule against it, but hadn't come across one so thought, eh? Why not? Figured it was possible as long as someone from the house let you in. ^_^ And I remember reading somewhere that Rowling had wanted Harry to visit all the common rooms originally in the books, but couldn't come up with reasons for some of them.

Pamela Hutchins – Haha! Next chapter!

Thanks for reading and following everyone!