AU: 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: Thanks to Giddyupgirl for reviewing, I hope I can keep satisfying your fan fic fix.

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 3

Courses and Quidditch

The jet lag caught up to me that night. I finally managed to fall asleep around five AM, being used to going to bed at home around one or two AM. Around noon I was awakened by my mother yelling outside my bedroom door.

"Laura! Time to wake up! I know you're suffering from jet lag, but the best way to adjust is to get up and get moving at your normal time."

My reaction of course was a very muffled, "go away. I'm still tired."

Then another voice yelled from the other side of the door, "Come on, Laura. You promised we'd do something today. I've been awake for hours."

I nearly fell out of my bed. Oliver was standing right outside my bedroom door! I knew I was not getting back to sleep after this shock, so I sat up, stretched, yawned, and yelled back, "Ok, Ok, I'm up."

I stood up and grabbed my terry cloth robe and wrapped it around me to hide the butt shorts and tank top I slept in. I stared into the mirror for a few seconds, all too aware of my disheveled hair. My brush, unfortunately, was on the bathroom vanity. I pulled my fingers through it a few times to try and tame the mess and then bravely stepped outside.

He was there, leaning against the staircase railing, looking just a hott as ever.

He smiled when he saw me emerge, "Pleasant dreams?"

"Very," I answered, trying to hide a smirk. My pleasant dreams had been filled with him. "Now that I'm awake I'll meet you downstairs after I take a shower."

He just smiled in return and headed downstairs.

I showered and dressed quickly, pulled my wet hair into a tight pony tail, and practically skipped down the stairs. Oliver was sitting in the kitchen, talking to my mom about Hogwarts. I pulled up a chair and sat down next to him.

"You received a letter this morning," commented my mother, pointing to an envelope on the table.

"It's from Hogwarts," added Oliver, "see the seal on the back."

Indeed on the back of the envelope was a maroon seal with a lion, snake, badger, and raven around a large H.

"I wonder what it is," he continued, "it's too soon for our book lists."

I ripped open the envelope and pulled out a neatly written parchment letter:

Dear Ms. Keaton,

On behalf of the entire staff of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I would like to welcome you to England. We have received your transcript from The Salem Institute and are very pleased that you will now be spending your 6th and 7th years with us. Enclosed is a list of courses you are eligible to take in the coming term. Please choose the classes you wish to take and reply to me as soon as possible. This way we can get your book list together in time for the new year. I'm sure you will do very well at Hogwarts, as your academic record is impressive.

Also enclosed is a form that I need your parents to sign regarding weekend trips to the local village of Hogsmead. Please send it back with your course list. I am looking forward to meeting you in person when the new term commences.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

I pulled out the other piece of parchment and stared at a page full of class titles.

"What should I take," I asked Oliver, who had been reading over my shoulder.

He scanned over the list of courses, "What can't you take," he teased, "this is practically every course offered. You must have done really well on your O.W.L.'s."

I blushed slightly, I had received top marks in nearly everything, but I didn't want to seem like I was bragging. "I did alright," I replied instead.

"Well, what are your favorite subjects?"

I had to think for a moment before answering, "Well, I always thought charms were fun and transfiguration is always a handy talent to have. I know I don't like potions and history."

"Ok, so we've got charms and transfiguration. Defense against the dark arts is usually an interesting class, mostly because the job is cursed and no one seems to stay more than one year, so we don't really learn too much: easy grade basically. I'm taking a course on apparition; it's only open to sixth and seventh years, since I want to get my license as soon as I'm seventeen. You're smart, so you might like Ancient Runes or Arithmancy, I'm not up for that much of a challenge."

After another half hour I finally decided on my courses: N.E.W.T. level Charms, N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration, N.E.W.T. level Defense Against the Dark Arts, An Introduction to Apparition, Ancient Runes, N.E.W.T. level Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures. (I wanted Care of Magical Creature because there weren't any in the United States to learn to care for, and I wanted to get acquainted with the ones in Europe) Once Cortez was one his way with my reply letter I was able to turn my attention to what Oliver and I were going to do that day.

As it turned out Oliver already had plans for us that day: he was beginning his campaign to turn me into a Quidditch fan. We crossed the lawn and went into his house, where he led me to his bedroom. It was one huge shrine to Quidditch, with moving posters of different teams plastering the walls: the last British National team, Puddlemere United, the Ballycastle Bats, Tutshill Tornados, and countless others. Hanging from the ceiling were old Quidditch balls: a Quaffle, two inactive Bludgers, and a slightly fluttering Snitch. Hung with honor on the far wall was an ancient broomstick with a plaque underneath it reading:

Falling star 250- Precursor to the Shooting Star Series

Used by Cornelius Wood- Keeper for British National Team

1903 Quidditch World Cup Champions

"That was my great-great grandfather," said Oliver proudly, seeing that I was looking at the broomstick.

"I guess Quidditch is in your blood then," I replied.

"Yeah, but that's not what I wanted to show you." He brought me over to a tripod with many boards set upon it. On each was a diagram of a Quidditch field, with arrows and markers representing players and plays to be made.

"This is what I've been working on all summer," he said, that strange look creeping back into his eyes. "A whole new training plan: sooner, harder, and new plays no one has ever seen. We'll have to win the cup this year!"

"Sorry, cup?"

"The inter-house Quidditch Cup, last year Slytherin won, even though we should have beaten them. Unfortunately our Seeker was unconscious in the hospital wing, which left us a player short. Not that it was his fault or anything. At least Gryffindor won the house cup, that took the smiles off the Slytherins' faces, that did."

I was now thoroughly confused, "Slytherin? Gryffindor? House cup?"

He laughed, "Sorry, keep forgetting you don't know how things are run at Hogwarts. As first years we are sorted in houses; there are four, and each look for different qualities: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I'm in Gryffindor, which is known for bravery," he puffed his chest out slightly and I fought back a laugh. "Ravenclaws are known for their smarts, Slytherin is known for turning out more dark wizards than any other house, and Hufflepuff takes anyone who doesn't fit into the other three houses. Each house has its own common room and dormitory. We also go to classes with our house, though we are usually mixed with another house as well. There is also a competition between houses for points, who ever has the most points by the end of the school term wins the house cup. You win points by answering questions in class and generally as rewards, also by winning Quidditch matches. You loose points for breaking rules, not doing homework, stuff like that."

"Ahh, that is not at all how things worked at Salem Institute. We were randomly assigned to what class we were in and we didn't live at the school. I like the sound of your system better."

"You'll like Hogwarts, I know it."