Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter, blah, blah, blah, you get the idea. But if you don't know characters, creatures, or big plot ideas from the books, the movies, or common Harry Potter grapevines, they are ours and please do not touch.
I'm writing this story with krenyaalenak.
Authoresses' Note: Sorry about the delay. We're still alive, and we're gonna finish posting this story, really! It's actually all written. We're just going over the chapters again, and we haven't worked on it in a while. So here you go! And please forgive us. -whimpers-
Don't you hate how the asterisks and backslashes and parenthesis don't work any more.
Chapter 12
Phase 2 of Project Mrs. Wood
Fred, George, and Lee were in their corner, heads bent together, whispering.
They looked up as someone pulled up a chair. It was Beth.
"What do you want?" George said.
"Ah want to get Oliver and Jusea together."
The guys exchanged glances. "And?"
"Ah hear ye're the guys to talk to," she whispered. "Actually, Katie said ye were trying to set Oliver up with anyone and everyone while he was unconscious," she added.
"Why should we help you?" Fred asked.
"Do ye want to get Oliver a girlfriend or not? Ah know who to put him with, but Ah am definitely not leaving it all in yehr hands."
"What's wrong with our hands?"
Beth laughed mirthlessly.
"What was that for?" George said.
"Oh, nothing. Now, are ye guys going to help me or not?"
"No. We're gonna let you help us."
Beth considered. "Fine."
Oliver dipped his quill in the inkwell and scribbled down another line. Lee sat down next to him. "Hi, Oliver."
"Hey, Lee."
"Do you have any plans for this Friday?"
"Practice."
"You can practice Saturday morning. And Friday afternoon."
"Why?"
"Because you're gonna be going somewhere in the evening."
Oliver stopped writing and looked at Lee. "Where?"
"Hogsmeade."
"Why?"
"There's a really sweet girl who's never seen Hogsmeade and who wants to go there. I thought you'd be the perfect tour guide for her."
"Why me?"
"You're charming, a great conversationalist, and all the girls say you're cute."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Who is she?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Ah swear, Lee, if it's Moaning Myrtle again, Ah'll kill you. And the twins."
"Who said they're involved?"
"They always are."
"She's really hot."
"And nice?"
"Yes."
Oliver considered. "Fine, as long as Ah'm back in time for practice."
"All right. Eight to ten work for you?"
"I suppose that'll be fine. We can practice until seven-thirty and then at ten-thirty."
"Seven. You'll need time to get ready."
"Half an hour is plenty of time."
"To get ready after practicing Quidditch? Come on, you want to look your best, don't you?"
"Who is she, Lee?"
"Not telling."
Oliver glared at Lee. "How will Ah know it's her?"
"You'll know. You'll meet her in the entrance hall, all right?"
"Ah guess. Are ye sure?"
Lee grinned. "Positive."
Beth sat down at the Ravenclaw table. "Good morning, Jusea."
"Good morning."
"Do ye have any plans for this Friday?"
"No."
"Good. Do ye want to go on a date?"
"A blind date?"
"Yep."
"No, thanks. My brothers have set me up so many times, and they're horrible."
"Trust me, Ah'm not yehr brothers. Do ye think Ah'd trust Oliver to set me up? Besides, Ah hear he's a really nice guy, and he's supposed to be cute."
"Oliver?"
Beth laughed. "Oliver?"
"I don't know, it kinda-Nevermind."
"Well, he is really nice. Are ye up for it?"
"I suppose. When will I meet him?"
"Entrance hall, Friday evening, quarter to eight."
"How will I know who he is?"
"Trust me, ye'll know."
Lee shut the door. "So, how'd it go?" Fred asked.
"She took the bait, hook, line, and sinker," Beth said.
"It was some work, but he's going," Lee said.
"Excellent. Good work, Fred, Lee."
"Good work, George and Lee."
Beth cleared her throat.
"Oh, yes, and you, too, Beth."
"Couldn't have done it without you."
"Thank ye."
"Stage Two of Project Mrs. Wood underway."
Oliver bolted out of the portrait hole. He checked his watch. 7:40. He wheeled onto a staircase, almost falling, and jumped onto the next landing. Down the next two staircases and over one hall. 7:43. He wasn't going to make it.
It was 7:46 when he raced down the stairs and skidded to a stop in the entrance hall. Not bad. He started looking around.
"Uh-"
Oliver turned. "Jusea?"
"Oliver?"
"Uh. Hi."
"Hi."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm...waiting to meet someone. You?"
"Ah'm...here to meet someone. Who are ye waiting for?"
"I don't know. It's...well, you see..."
"Are ye waiting for a date?"
"Y-yeah?"
"So am Ah. Did Fred or George suggest this to ye?"
"No. Beth did. You?"
"Lee." Oliver snorted. "Well, this is fine."
"Well, we don't have to go, if you don't want to."
"No, no, no. Ah do want to go. Really," Oliver added.
"Are you sure?"
"Do ye want to go?"
"Sure. If you want to."
"Sure." They stood there, Oliver shuffling his feet, Jusea biting her lip.
"Well, Ah guess we should go. Lee said we have a reservation. At the Three Broomsticks," Oliver said.
"Okay."
They slowly walked out of the castle.
Beth, George, Fred, and Lee slapped hands together. "Yes!"
Jusea and Oliver were sitting in the Three Broomsticks.
"So, what have you been up to?"
"Nothing really. Except that Ah came up with a new idea for our next match."
"Did you? Tell me about it."
Oliver proceeded to explain his game plan.
Oliver and Jusea walked up to the castle, and they paused outside the main doors. Jusea slid her hands into her pockets. "Thanks, Oliver, I had a really nice time."
"Ye did?"
"Yes."
"Great, so did Ah."
"So.I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow? Aye."
"Great. I hope that idea works out for you."
"Me, too."
"Well, I guess I gotta go. Sleep and all, you know?"
"Yeah. Ye do need your sleep."
"Right. Bye."
"Bye." Oliver watched Jusea leave. Then he went back to the Common Room. When he got in he saw Fred, George, Lee in the corner; Harry, Ron, and Hermione at a table; Beth was with Angelina, Katie, and Alicia. "TEAM!"
All the members looked up at Oliver.
"What?" Alicia yelled back.
"Grab your broomsticks."
"What?!" Katie exclaimed.
"Practice, or don't you remember?"
"Oliver, it's dark, or did you not realize that when you couldn't see outside anymore?" Angelina asked.
"We'll practice by the light of the moon."
"Why?" Fred asked.
"Because Ah have a great new game plan."
"Since 7? I thought you were busy," George said.
"Ah was. She gave me some great ideas."
Alicia turned to the twins. "You had to get him a girlfriend who talks about Quidditch?"
"How were we supposed to know?" George stated.
Fred finished, "Yeah, she's not on any team."
"Come on. The day isn't getting any younger. Let's go," Oliver said. They followed him out to practice.