Oliver Wood has fallen for his new neighbor, who happens to be an American witch. Romantic fluffy fic taking place during CoS, but from the p.o.v. of Oliver's love interest, Laura.

A/N Much more Oliver in this chapter, yay! As you may have guessed, about the first five chapters take place before Hogwarts is back in session, then the rest start following the CoS plot line, with some juicy little Oliver moments of course. Oh, and I've changed the rating to T just to be safe, since there are some suggestive jokes and snogging in the future chapters. Anyway, that's all for now, enjoy, and remember to R&R.

Oh, and J.K. Rowling owns everything in the wizarding world, I've just set my character, Laura, into it. So please let her stay for a little while, she (and the author) mean no harm.

Chapter Two

England isn't so bad

I must have looked surprised to see someone looking at me, because the boy laughed and yelled across, "Hi! Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

He had a very thick accent. I didn't think it sounded British, more like an Irish or Scottish accent, but all I really knew of accents were of those actors in Hollywood movies.

I smiled and yelled back, "Hello. You didn't startle me, but I just moved here, and I'm not used to having neighbors."

"You have an American accent," he yelled back. "Where are you from?"

I laughed, "When I first heard you I thought you had an accent, I forget that I'm not in Massachusetts anymore."

"Massachusetts? Isn't that where they had those witch trials in the 1700's?"

"Yeah," I answered, thinking it odd he would bring up the Salem trials. "A lot of innocent Mug, err, people died."

He laughed, though I didn't know what I had said that was so funny.
"This is dumb," he finally yelled, "screaming across to each other. Would you mind if I came over to meet you in person so we could talk like normal people?"

"Sure, come on over," I replied.

I scampered downstairs to meet him, excited at the prospect of making a friend, a very cute one, on my first day in England. I jumped the last two steps as the doorbell rang and I shouted, "I'll get it."

When I opened the door he was standing there, smiling, hands shyly shoved in his pockets. My heart seemed to skip a beat or two and I remember thinking, "he's not cute, he's gorgeous." I very much wished I was not still wearing my traveling clothes: old faded jean shorts and a baggy, oversized t-shirt. I was also uncomfortably aware of the messy ponytail that held back my dirty blonde hair.

"Hi," I finally managed to say. "Ummm, please come in." I stepped aside so he could enter the house. Mom and Dad had appeared from the kitchen to see who was at the door.

"Mom, Dad," I started, "this is our new neighbor, ummm, sorry, I don't think I caught your name." By now I was blushing furiously.

"Sorry, it was my fault for not introducing myself earlier. Oliver Wood." He extended his right hand to my parents who eagerly shook it.

"It's very nice to meet you," replied mom. "We're the Keaton's. I'm Melissa, this is my husband Cliff, and my daughter Laura."

"I'm sure you will like it here," said Oliver, then turning to my mother, "You may have met my parents when you were at the Ministry earlier, David and Elena Wood?"

Comprehension shown on my mom's face. "That's where I recognize the name from. David works in the Magical Games and Sports office and Elena for the Department of Magical Transportation, right?"

Oliver smiled again, and my heart flip flopped, "Yep, that's them."

Realization finally hit me like a truck (errr, lorry, since I'm in England now). "You're a wizard?"

"Sorry I didn't tell you before," he answered, "but I didn't think it was something I should yell from my window for the entire neighborhood to hear. The Ministry told us that you would be moving in. Everyone else is a Muggle around here."

Things could not have gone better for me at that moment. Not only was Oliver the most gorgeous guy I had ever set eyes on, but he was a wizard as well. I could hardly contain my excitement. I finally came back to my senses when I realized I had been left alone with Oliver in the hallway, as my parents had politely excused themselves to go continue unpacking. We stood there for what seemed to me a very long, and uncomfortable, few seconds. Thankfully he broke the silence by asking if I wanted to be shown around the neighborhood. I agreed immediately, shouted to my parents where I was going, and stepped outside.

We turned left, walking away from our houses. The development was one large circle with roads crisscrossing through it. Oliver was always pointing out where so-and-so lived, who was nice, who was nosey, and who hated kids (so I'd best stay away from them). Eventually we ended up back at his house after finishing the entire circuit. He led me through a gate and into the fenced in back yard. I noticed all varieties of magical plants, reminding me of home. Out of a dark hedge I could just glimpse a wary garden gnome staring back at us. We sat down on a stone bench beside a small water garden with a trickling fountain.

"So, I guess you will be going to Hogwarts now for school?" he asked.

I shrugged, "I guess so," I'd learned the names of the European schools at Salem, but never really took any interest in them. "What's it like at Hogwarts?"

"I really like it," he replied. "The school is a 1000 year-old castle and about as magical as they go. We have a large lake on the grounds, as well as a forest, but students aren't allowed to go in because all sorts of evil things live there…" He stopped when he saw the fearful look on my face. He laughed, "don't worry, they don't leave the forest. It is said that Hogwarts is the safest place to be."

"Why do they say that?"

"Probably because of our headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. A lot of people think he is the greatest wizard ever, and I tend to agree with him. Most importantly he loves the school. He even passed up a job as Minister of Magic to stay at Hogwarts, now that's dedication. Plus he was the only person You-Know-Who was ever afraid of, erm, you do know you You-Know-Who is right?"

"Yeah, we learned about his rise and fall at school, and there were some in the United States who felt he was going about things in the right way, but the movement wasn't nearly as strong as it was here. It pretty much died after the Potter boy killed him."

"Ah, yes, Potter. Not only good at destroying dark wizards but a damn good Quidditch player too."

"Wait, you know him?"

"You will soon as well. He goes to Hogwarts too, and is the best Seeker I've ever seen. Do you like Quidditch?"

Quidditch was played in the United States, but it wasn't as popular as it was in England. Our international team was a bit of a joke, often getting crushed in the first few rounds. They had never even made it to the World Cup.

I shrugged in reply to his question, "I've seen a few games, but I don't really follow it closely. Why, you a big fan?"

"You could say Quidditch is my life," he answered. "I'm captain of the Gryffindor House team and the Keeper. I'm hoping to play professionally after I graduate from Hogwarts." I noticed he had a sort of crazed look in his eye when he talked about Quidditch. "Don't worry," he continued, "I'll turn you into a fan even if it kills me."

I laughed and secretly thought that if he was the one teaching me, I would even become a fan of naked house-elf wrestling.

By this time dusk was falling quickly and I knew I needed to be getting home.

Just as I was leaving through the gate, Oliver called after me, "Hey, you wanna do something tomorrow?"

"Sure," I yelled back, and across the yard our eyes met for a few seconds and I thought I was going to melt. Tearing my gaze away from his dreamy brown eyes I happily meandered across my own lawn and into my new house.