Chapter 2 - Quidditch and Jealousy

When the students arrived at Hogwarts, there was the normal procedure. The sorting ceremony came first and the Great Feast followed. Oliver sat at the teacher's table now. Ada noticed he wasn't speaking to any of the other teachers or eating. He was just staring. At her. She felt awkward but she tried to ignore it. She ate her dinner and had a conversation with Fred about Emily.

"She's just...perfect," he said through a mouthful of potatoes.

"Ask her out already! You've liked her for what? Two years now? Be brave! You're a Gryffindor. Besides, you don't seem the type to get your knickers in a twist over a girl." Ada reached for a bread roll.

"Yeah but...Emily's different. I don't think of her as a girl."

Ada laughed. "Oh, that'll win her over for sure. Just tell her that and she'll jump in your arms."

Fred rolled his eyes and sighed. "You know what I mean. She's not just any girl. She's one of my closest friends and I don't want to risk our friendship if she doesn't return my feelings."

"You sound like you should be in one of those mushy love columns in that lousy newspaper your mum reads. Very unlike you, Fred. Emily must be something special if she makes you talk like that. I mean...she is great but no one has been able to 'get the better of you' I could say." Ada winked at him.

Professor McGonogall was handing out the Gryffindors their schedules. Ada wondered why they wouldn't get them tomorrow morning. She got hers and stared at it, disappointingly. She looked at Fred and George who were giving their schedules the same look.

"Advanced Divinity's first. Fantastic. Why first? I guess I can sleep in there then. I won't miss much," she said, putting her fork down on her empty plate.

"Yeah. Maybe we shouldn't have skipped so many times. I don't think we should be forced to take the same class twice even if we failed the first time. We took it. And who's to say we didn't learn anything?" George added. Ada and Fred chuckled.

"And miss out on doing all those pranks? Sure, George. We'll pass them up for Trelawny next time," Fred said sarcastically, finishing the last bit of his turkey. "And besides. Divinity will be a blast! We can poke fun at Trelawny so easily. She doesn't even know it. She thinks we're actually interested in what she's saying although we're just trying to get her to say something stupid."

"Which isn't hard to do, mind you," George reminded him.

Ada remembered her book she purchased for Advanced Divinity. Bad Omens and Signs of Most Horrible Death and Destruction added to Weasley jokes, she thought. Ada couldn't help but laugh.

***

On the way back to the common room, Oliver caught up with them.

"I want to find out the password so I can see you three anytime I see fit," he told Ada, Fred, and George.

"We could just tell you what it is," Ada replied, trying not to make eye contact with him.

"Oh, but then I wouldn't be spending this time with you!" He winked and pinched her cheek, playfully. He put his arm around her and she faintly heard George whisper something to Fred. They both laughed. Ada felt her face start to burn.

They got to the portrait and George spoke up first.

"Ickle Oddment," he called out.

The Fat Lady giggled and swung open.

"She's either had too much butterbeer again or she's easily amused," Ada laughed.

"Or both," Oliver added.

Although the common room was buzzing with excitement, Ada felt confused. Not to mention tired. She said goodnight to Fred and George after Oliver gave her a hug on his way out. Ada trudged up the stairs, ignoring all the noise. As she fell asleep, all she could think about was Oliver and how she desperately wished she could read minds. He didn't do anything but stare at her in the Great Hall and then he acted as if nothing had changed just a moment before. Ada needed some sleep. She tossed and turned all night only to wake up even more tired than she was the night before. She wondered if she had missed breakfast because she was the only one in the dormitory. She got dressed and walked down to the common room, sleepily. Everyone was still at the party although Fred and George were the only ones awake.

"Oy! Ada! Oliver was looking for you about one minute ago. He just left. But ignore him. Want a pumpkin pasty?" George was nearly jumping up and down, full of energy.

"Er...no thanks. I've learned not to take food from the likes of you." Ada gave them a tired smile.

"I ate one after Fred charmed it with some energy spell we've been working on and that was right after we got in here last night!" George wouldn't stop jumping and running around in circles.

"No thanks. I'm going to catch Oliver." She gave them another tired smile and started to walk out.

"I bet you will," mumbled Fred, just loud enough for Ada to hear.

Ada turned and opened her mouth to come back at him. "Ha. Nevermind," she said. With that, she walked out of the common room only to find Oliver standing against a bookcase, watching her.

"Why are you in referee robes? Quidditch season doesn't start till November. A bit eager, aren't we?" she asked, confused.

"Game for fun. After breakfast. I told the twins to wake everyone up. The teachers are gone until tonight. Other than Dumbledore and McGonogall, that is. I haven't been told why because they haven't gotten used to me being in a teacher's position. I'm too close to the students, they say. Anyway, be on the Quidditch Pitch straight away. After you eat, of course."

Before Ada could say another word, he had turned the corner and left. Odd she thought. I wonder what's up with him. She made her way to the Great Hall. A loud, familiar hum of talking met her ears at her entrance. There were no more than twenty Gryffindors at their table. Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw were full. Emily saw Ada walk in. She rushed up to her.

"Where is everyone?" Emily asked, anxiously.

Ada knew she was really only concerned with Fred but answered without a cheeky comment. "They've...er...over-partied, I daresay. When I woke up, everyone was asleep in the common room except for the twins. They were full of energy. Be cautious of the pumpkin pasties. I think that's their energy source."

Emily smiled. "So where's Oliver?"

Ada particularly didn't want to talk about him and her confusion. "Erm. Yeah. I need to talk to you about that. Let me eat first."

After she ate, Ada informed Emily about Oliver and his strange behaviour.

"Well, he obviously likes you," Emily said, "Don't think too much of it though. If you do, you'll start acting weird around him and then he'll think strangely of you. Let things play out a bit before a decision."

Ada nodded in agreement and told Emily about the Quidditch game. Emily went to get her broom and Ada did the same. They met outside the front doors and walked to the Quidditch Pitch together, talking about Oliver and Fred. When they walked on to the field, they both bit their lips at the sight of Oliver and Fred in Quidditch robes. Ada had been too occupied in her thoughts to notice before.

"Man, I love Quidditch," Emily finally said as Oliver and Fred were running up to them. Ada laughed and nodded in agreement, trying not to stare at Oliver too much.

"Fred's one team's captain and Brooke has volunteered to be the other one," Oliver said as him and Fred reached the two girls. He seemed as if he was directing his information at Ada only since he was looking at her and not both of them. Ada and Emily sneered at the mention of Brooke's name. She was a rude girl who had it in for the both of them.

"Let's start then!" Ada didn't want to draw out the awkward moment for too long. Besides, she couldn't wait to play Quidditch. She hopped on her broom and flew to the center of the field with Emily.

"See?" Ada pointed out to Emily. "He did it again!"

"Yeah, I know. Keep your mind off it. I hope we get picked for the same team," stated Emily.

"Knowing Fred, we should both be picked for his. But you never know when Brooke will decide to butt in."

Ada saw Oliver walk off the field and return with the Quidditch box that held the balls.

"Alright, captains," he yelled, "Choose your teams."

Brooke and Fred stepped forward to begin forming their teams. Brooke was a short girl with her blondish-red hair pulled back tightly in a high pony tail. Her skin was a strange dark orange colour due to her fake tan and awful make-up. She held her nose up in the air as she began.

"We need some fast chasers. Good ones." She looked around, pathetically, at the people surrounding her. A Hufflepuff boy raised his hand, jumping up and down, frantically. Brooke looked right past him. She spotted Emily and Fred mouthing things to each other. Her eyes narrowed.

"Keepers first, actually. EMILY!" she screamed. "You're good. Get up here."

Emily hesitated. "Why me? I don't like that...that...Brooke," she whispered to Ada.

Ada laughed at Emily using Brooke's name as an insulting word against her. "Oh, just go. Sportsmanship, Emily."

Emily muttered curses under her breath as she reluctantly lumbered into the middle of the referee's circle to stand next to Brooke. Fred gave Emily an apologetic smile.

"Chasers!" he called out. "You there. What's your name?" He was talking to the Hufflepuff boy, Brooke passed up.

"Uh...Brad," the boy said. He was tall, pale-skinned, and slightly chubby with brown hair. Ada looked at his broom. A Comet Two Sixty. Ada smirked. It had been so long since she had ridden on one, she had forgotten how slow it was compared to her Firebolt.

"Come on, then. I didn't ask your name to have a chat with you. There's Quidditch to be played, after all," Fred said lightly, smiling.

Oliver leaned towards Ada and whispered something. Ada laughed at his comment. Brooke whipped around and saw the two of them leaning on each other, whispering. Brooke's eyes narrowed even more tightly.

"Seekers!" she yelled. "Ah. Ada," she said, glaring.

Ada stopped laughing, as did Oliver. He cleared his throat and she walked up next to Emily.

"I think someone's a little jealous, aye?" she asked Emily, making sure Brooke heard her.

Brooke only stuck her nose higher in the air and continued picking the rest of the team. Ada and Emily laughed. After Fred and Brooke had finished, the teams took their positions. Oliver opened the Quidditch box and the Bludgers, followed by the Golden Snitch, flew out as everyone waited impatiently for him to blow the whistle.

"Where's Harry, by the way?" he asked suddenly, looking around.

Brad spoke up before any Gryffindors could. "Hermione said he's dealing with his sick owl. Apparently, she nabbed a few estranged sweets last night," he said.

Oliver looked at him as if Brad was confused as to of what house he was in. Ada rolled her eyes.

"Oliver! Come on! We want to play some Quidditch, already," she said.

"Right. Well, here we go!" He threw the Quaffle into the air and immediately, Angelina Johnson zoomed forward and caught it. She dodged around the opposing team's players with ease and made her way to the goal hoops. She threw the Quaffle just as the keeper noticed she was there.

"Ten points to Brooke's team!" Oliver yelled.

Brooke lunged for the Quaffle just before it hit the ground. She flew up and around Fred, then made a sharp turn and threw the Quaffle towards one of the hoops. Brad intercepted it and flew off in the opposite direction. As he got closer, a bludger nearly knocked him out. He slanted his head, closed his eyes, and threw the Quaffle as he swerved off to the side, barely avoiding the Bludger's path. He flew higher and waited for Oliver to announce whether or not her made the goal.

"Ten points to Fred's team!"

Brad gave a sigh of relief and waited until he could make another move. Ada sat in midair, waiting for the Golden Snitch to appear. She spotted a flicker of gold hovering close above the ground. She smiled and kept her eyes fixed tightly on the nearly impossible to see speck. She took a quick dive downward as the opposing seeker noticed her intent. Ada and the other seeker were now neck and neck. The Snitch spiraled around and flew behind them. Ada stayed on its tail while the other seeker kept going. Up, down, left, right, around, down, up, backward, forward, and steady. The snitch was everywhere. Ada noticed the other seeker was catching up to her. She bolted forward and zoomed past Brad and Fred with the other seeker following close behind. While Ada desperately trailed the Snitch, Emily had her work cut out for her as well. She was blocking goals left and right. Nothing got past her since the first goal made by Brad. George saved her from being taken out by Bludgers a few times. Emily was playing as if she was in a professional game. Oliver was watching her skillful performance carefully, when a blur streaked by him. His focus reverted to the seekers. Ada was now in arm's length of the snitch. The other seeker didn't stand a chance. Suddenly, Ada was shadowed by the opposing seeker flying above her. She pulled her legs up and pushed down on the broom w/ her feet. The end of her broom hit the other seeker's elbow, throwing him off balance. When she recovered herself from her back-flip, she had just enough time to see him land in the high stands. She quickly snapped her focus back to the Snitch that was right in front of her. She grabbed it and Oliver blew his whistle.

"Astonishing capture of the Snitch by Ada! Brooke's team wins one hundred-sixty to ten!"

The players landed and Oliver congratulated them all. He patted Fred on the back. Ada was the last to land. She handed Oliver the Snitch with a big smile.

"Great flying out there," he said.

"Aw, it was nothing," she answered, modestly.

There was an awkward silence that was soon broken by Emily and the twins.

"Great job, Ada!" Emily said.

"Yeah, fantastic!" added George.

"I'd say it was amazing but you made my team lose so..." Fred leaned his elbow on Ada's shoulder as he spoke.

They all laughed and Ada congratulated them in return. As they walked off the field, they noticed Brooke talking to Brad.

"He's not a bad chaser, that one," Fred admitted.

"Well, Brooke's not a bad chaser either but she's got a jealous streak that'll spoil anything," Emily smirked. They all agreed and walked off the field.