The Loneliest Girl - Ch. 5

Of Sidesaddles and Bludgers

Oliver Wood flew around the Quidditch pitch his hair flying out behind him as he headed into the wind. A slight smile played on his lips as he let all his cares and worries fall down to the ground as he circled ever higher into the sky. His pleasant thoughts were interrupted as a bludger flew past his ear closely followed be Fred.

"Come on guys, keep those blasted things in line!"

"Ah, come on! Your never any fun at practice." George retorted.

"Oh, you want fun?" he grinned wickedly and spun his broom around beginning to chase the twins.

"Ok! We can take a hint, we'll get back to work..." cried Fred or was it George....

Oliver pulled his broom up and circled the pitch again, this time descending. His ears perked up as he heard Angelna call his name and he flew up toward where she was flying. As he neared where the chasers were he could hear an argument starting.

"I told you I saw something."

"It was nothing, you just didn't get enough sleep..."

"See there it is again. I told you!"

Oliver looked where one of the girls was pointing and saw something large moving along the lakes edge.

"Now I'm starting to see things." He muttered before shaking his head. "Ok, enough practice for one day, head in."

The entire team landed and Fred looked at Oliver. "Are you ok, you don't look well"

"I'm fine, I'm just going to stay out for a little bit"

"Suit yourself." Fred turned and followed the rest of the team into the changing rooms.

Oliver sighed to himself and kicked back up into the air trying to regain the blissful feeling. Unknown to him a black stallion walked into the pitch carrying its Mistress with the greatest of ease like she wasn't even on him. Aries caught sight of something in the air, but he knew Heinali was still getting use to ridding sidesaddle trying to please Severus.

Heinali fidgeted slightly in the saddle not feeling as secure riding aside a horse than astride. Aries stopped and let his mistress adjust before slowly moving forward at her command. The two completed several rounds at a slow walk before Heinali slid her left foot onto the stallion's side and Aries took up a beautiful canter his head high and neck arched in joy.

Oliver came out of his daydream at what sounded like thunder echoed around him. He looked up and noticed to his relief that it was still clear out. A slight giggle sounded below him and he looked down, there was that same figure he saw before yet it was different. It hit him like a lightning bolt, there was the girl he had a crush on riding a giant black beast.

Aries skidded to a halt as something flew down in front of him, his wild side said flee yet somewhere deep down he knew he must protect the girl he was carrying. His ears flattened and he bared his teeth at this strange looking figure. Heinali let out a gasp in surprise at his dramatic entrance and ran a hand along the stallion's neck soothing him.

"Hello there Oliver, how are you today?" she backed Aries up a few paces noticing one of his ears was still down.

"Hi Heinali, I'm fine." He dismounted from his broom. "Is that thing yours?"

Aries snorted and stomped a hoof at being called 'that thing'. "And who else did he think I would belong to? The incinerate boy!"

Heinali looked at the horse, "Aries that was not nice!" She looked down at the Quidditch player "Yes Oliver, he's mine."

He blushed thinking of what the horse might have 'said' and quickly looked at the ground wondering about what she said. She can talk to that thing? Wicked! No one is going to believe this.

She smiled down at him, "Um, Oliver? Mind helping me down?"

Oliver looked up at her as if she had asked him to marry her. He stepped up to her and placed his hands around her waist and gently picked her up off the saddle. The soft green cotton material the dress, a spell was placed on it to be durable through everything, was made of didn't stop the heat for Oliver's hands. Heinali blushed and giggled as his hands met at the small of her back.

The two stared at each other for some time unaware that two people were staring at them in shock, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin being nice to each other, especially a Snape being nice to the rival house. It was the blackmail they could use in the future. The two red-haired twins nodded to each other and George cleared his thought loudly. Oliver and Heinali's heads snapped toward the sound and stared in disbelief at two smug looking Weasleys.

"Well Gred it looks like opportunity came knocking at our door."

"That it does Feorge. SO, how much do you think a picture of this will be worth?"

"I'd say at least four dentations from our dear old friend Professor Snape." Fred grinned and produced a camera taking several shots of the stunned 'couple' before them.

Heinali winced and hung her head before shying behind Oliver and in front of a perplexed Aries. Oliver took hold of her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before advancing on the two laughing beaters.

"And how much do you think your positions are worth?"

Both Fred and George gulped at the towering captain. "That's what I thought. No, I repeat, NO copies will be posted anywhere or given out to anyone who is not right here right now. Do you understand?"

The twins muttered a meek yes and eyed Heinali, "Looking good there. Want to come to a Gryffindor Quidditch party, you would fit right in."

Heinali blushed, she had no idea which twin made which comment but she was glad Oliver was there to keep them in line. Oliver smiled sweetly down at Heinali and took what resembled a letter out of his shirt pocket and looked it over before handing it to her.

" I was going to just keep it until I saw you in-between classes, but since you're here now... Oh, that was the dinner bell. See you later Heinali."

Wood blushed and walked away with the twins looking back over his shoulder every few steps.

Heinali sunk into Aries side once the boys left and held the letter tenderly in her hands. The stallion snorted and looked at her, a blush crept across her face but she managed to get Aries back to the stables and handed him to a stable hand who took Aries to his stall, unsaddled, and groomed him. Heinali rushed to the great hall, making it before dinner even started. The letter was safely tucked away in her potions book in the bag slung over one shoulder until she reached her spot at the table.

Her entrance into the great hall was noticed by all of the male population (which consisted of a lot of staring eyes), as they did the once over on Heinali Snape. One set of soft brown eyes followed her every movement and was still on her even after the meal started. The Weasley twins noticed that their captain's eyes hadn't left Heinali's face for one moment, Heinali was to busy talking about classes with her dorm mates never noticing his gaze, and looked at each other. They seemed to reach an agreement Oliver had it bad, he was in love with the one thing he could not posses, Heinali Snape and they planed to do something about it.

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*****Thanks to my lovely beta reader, hugs to all who reviewed my muses are happy now!*****

Disclaimer: same as before

Anjelsina: The manticore is a highly dangerous Greek beast with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. As dangerous as the Chimaera, and as rare, the manticore is reputed to croon softly as it devours its prey. Manticore skin repeals almost all known spells and the sting causes instant death. (from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander) That is what a manticore is and why I had professionals come destroy it.

Ashelyrose: I hope that was enough Oliver to keep you happy until I update.