Chapter 7: The First Day and an Encounter
Breakfast had consisted of eggs and sausages, toast and butter and of course, pumpkin juice. The seven sat at the edge of the Gryffindor house table and chatted about their new schedules. Callie was in 5 of Oliver's classes, yet she would not see any of her other friends because they were a year younger.
"You're taking care of Magical creatures again?" Alicia asked Callie. After swallowing a mouthful of juice, Callie answered,
"Well, I want to pursue a career with animals after I graduate."
"Ahhh…. So that's why your taking herbology too, eh?" Oliver asked. When she nodded in response he continued.
"I'm loading up on arithmetic classes for the same reason. They help me make Quidditch plans and strategies." The chatter continued until Professor Dumbledore announced that classes were soon beginning.
"Well, off to Professor Binns and History of Magic," Oliver said with a sigh. He motioned for Callie to follow him,
"Have fun in Potions guys!" Callie said with a little wave. The two sixth years left the hall on their way to History with the group of fifth years soon on their way to Potions and Professor Snape.
"You'll soon be able to find your way around with out a tour guide," Oliver said to Callie. She looked up at him as they walked down the stone hall among the other students.
"Oh I don't mind having a tour guide so much," she said with a slight grin. Oliver laughed a nudged her.
"Weelll, isn't that sweet," a voice said behind them. At the sound, Oliver's mouth hardened and he stopped in his tracks. Callie looked confused and turned around to see who had interrupted them. A boy with mousy brown hair and buckteeth stood smiling in front of them. For some reason she didn't like this kid and she automatically scowled and raised her eyebrows. The boy approached them.
"Bletchly." Oliver stated taking a step forward.
"Wood. How nice to see you. I see you have yet another girlfriend," the boy said with a nasty grin. Oliver blushed a bit. Callie was at first startled by the remark, but she would give Oliver a chance to explain later, I mean, it wasn't like she was his girlfriend.
"Stuff it Bletch," Wood began. "Save it for the pitch, you'll need it." Oliver looked like he could have spit on the kid. Bletchly just flashed his uneven teeth and walked by. Oliver re-gained his composure and started walking again. Callie had to run to catch up with him.
"Who was that lovely character Ollie?"
He seemed to finally remember she was with him and slowed down.
"Sorry about that love," he said with a sigh. "Bletchly. Keeper for Slytherin. Plays really rough. Me and him are kind of…" he trailed off.
"Arch enemies?" Callie offered. He smiled a bit, "Yeah."
Oliver didn't offer any information about Bletchly's "girlfriend" comment.
They made it to history on time, but there were no seats together. They sat on the bottom row 3 seats away from one another. The Ravenclaw sixth years sat on the top row. Callie listened intently to Professor Binns as he began the class. She found herself constantly looking though him, considering she'd never had a ghost for a teacher before. But, as Oliver had said she quickly became bored and found herself peering over at the boy. He never even glanced in her direction. She could even go as far as to say he was being weird since the incident with Bletchly.
They went through the rest of the day, chatting lightly, but never mentioning Bletchly. After transfiguration the students returned to the main hall for lunch. Oliver was more interested in joking around with the twins, so Callie talked with Angelina and Alicia. She considered asking them about Oliver, but finally decided that she'd wait a day.
When the day was over, she decided her favorite classes were Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid and DADA with Professor Lupin. After classes, some students stayed in the common room and others went to the library or main hall. Callie had taken her robes and shoes off and let her hair down and was sitting comfortablely on the Couch reading Care of Magical Creatures. Suddenly, Oliver appeared in front of her.
"Okay…Here's the deal," He began. She looked up and raised her blonde brows.
"I'm not some crazy, promiscuous teenager. I had a girlfriend last year… but it didn't work, and Bletchly knows that, so he had to be an ass." Olive spit out.
"Ollie, relax. It's not a big deal. So what's up with this Bletchly guy?" Oliver thought for a minute.
"To be in slytherin you have to be willing to do anything to get what you want, even if it means stealing, lying and hurting other people. Bletchly wants to win the Quidditch cup, and he wants to get me out of the way to do so… he's very rough."
"Hmmm," Callie began. "I'll keep that in mind then." Oliver looked down.
"Just… just try to steer clear of him will you?" he asked quietly. She puffed her chest up and flexed.
"But why Oliver? I could handle him!" she yelled with a smile. Oliver laughed weakly. "Really Ollie don't worry. I won't go looking for him, but if I do run into him, I might let my mouth get the best of me."
Oliver smiled genuinely this time. "And you always seemed so shy…" She punched him in the arm.
"Okay, okay," he laughed. "I'll see you at diner." He squeezed her shoulder and walked up the stone stairs to his room. And thus Callie was left to finish her chapters on protection charms.
