Disclaimer: All the brilliant stuff belongs to J.K and the crap stuff, including the plot, belongs to me.
A/N: How are we all? That's great. Thanks to all my reviewers! I never expected to get so many!
It's Quidditch time! Yiipee!!
Chapter 6
It was mid Saturday morning and the entire school was eagerly awaiting the commencement of the first game of the Quidditch season. Halloween had been three days ago, but everyone was still laughing about the prank. The Gryffindor first years had to exercise all their self-control not to own up to it.
The only thing that dampened the mood in Gryffindor house was the knowledge that Gryffindor was last on house points. Fred and George had lost seventy- five points for their midnight escapade and received a week's detention. As a result, Hufflepuff had moved up to third and Ravenclaw was second. Much to their disgust, Slytherin was first.
So, really, the Gryffindor's were only playing for pride.
"Oh, no," Angelina groaned as Fred took the vacant seat beside.
"Nice to see you, too."
"Move along, Licia, I want to sit next to Katie," Lee said.
Katie rolled her pretty blue eyes. "Sod off, Jordan."
Alicia smiled and obligingly moved up one seat. Who was she to stand in the way of true love?
"Thanks, Leesh. Hey, Katie, want to be my girlfriend?" Lee asked her for at least the seventh time.
"Sod off, Jordan," she repeated.
"I think she likes me," Lee whispered to Alicia and she giggled.
"Good morning, Alicia," Percy addressed her pompously.
"Hi." She hid a smile at his formality. She never called her Leesh or anything even though she'd known him for like six years.
"Is this seat taken?" He gestured to the empty seat on the other side of her.
"Um..." Alicia struggled to come up with an excuse.
"Get lost, Percy, that's my seat," George said appearing behind him suddenly. He shoved his older brother out of the way so he could sit down.
Percy let out a loud 'hmph' and stalked away.
"Thanks George."
"Don't mention it."
Alicia had to admit she had noticed a change in George recently. He was more…likable. She was sure it was only a phase though. Soon he'd do something to annoy her.
"Can't you go sit somewhere else?" Angelina asked Fred.
"Nope, I like it right here." He extended his arm and draped it around her shoulders.
"Seriously," she said, pushing him away, "if you touch me again I'll break your hand."
His reply was drowned out by the roaring crowd. The Gryffindor team had emerged.
"Here is the Gryffindor team. Wood, Parker, Delaney, Quiggle, Small, Jefferson and Simon," the Head Boy announced monotonously.
"He sounds enthusiastic," Lee commented.
Alicia wasn't paying any attention though. She had spotted Oliver and was closely watching him circle the pitch. Alicia had often heard the phrase 'poetry in motion' but she hadn't fully understood it until she saw Oliver flying.
The Slytherin team was announced and they took a quick fly then landed by Madam Hooch. Prima shook hands with the Slytherin captain and Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
"Alicia?" George shook her from her trance.
"What? Stop doing that."
"I was just wondering where Matt is. I can't see him out there."
"He's only the reserve Beater. He told me he'd rather be a reserve than play every game."
"I'm trying out for Beater next year. You trying out for Chaser?" George said as they watched the players fight over the Quaffle.
"No way! I'd never make it!" Alicia said, horrified by the very suggestion.
"You know very well you'd make it."
"Just drop it, George."
"Fine, no need to get stroppy."
"I am not stroppy," Alicia insisted through gritted teeth.
"Are so," he retorted
"See, I knew you'd do that!"
"Do what?"
"Just when you start to act normal you go and be stupid again."
"I am not stupid!"
"Shut up."
Alicia turned her attention back to the game and tried to concentrate. Her eyes kept drifting to Oliver as he hovered in front of the goals. She jumped considerably when Lee's head fell on her shoulder.
"Lee!"
"He's asleep," Katie observed.
Alicia rolled her eyes but decided there was no point waking him.
Katie yawned and stretched her neck from side to side. "This is boring."
"Yeah," Fred agreed. "I can't work out what's going on half the time."
"You know what we need? Commentary," George said excitedly.
"Commentary?" Alicia questioned.
"Commentary. And we know just the person to do it…"
"Who?" Angelina asked.
"Lee. He's always insisting that he's a Quidditch expert," Fred said.
"Doesn't he play, though?"
"He's afraid of heights," George said with a slight smile.
"Haven't you noticed him in flying class? He doesn't go very high. You should see how tight he grips the handle, I thought he was going to snap it in half!" Fred laughed.
"Don't pick on him. How would you like me to tell the girls your fear?" Alicia threatened.
"Tell us!" Angelina said eagerly.
"Muggle fairytales scare the crap out of him."
"Some Muggle story scared you?" Angelina sniggered.
"Have you ever heard any? Old ladies with gingerbread houses and wolves that dress up as grandmas." Fred shuddered. "It's enough to give you nightmares, really."
There was a large roar from the crowd as Gryffindor scored their first goal. All the cheering woke Lee.
"What's going on? We being attacked?" He looked around in worry.
"Gryffindor scored their first goal."
"Great. What's the score?" Lee rubbed his eyes.
"70-10," Katie shrugged.
"I thought it was 50-10," George said.
"Has Slytherin even scored?" Alicia looked on in confusion.
"It's ridiculous. I think commentary sounds like a great idea. Make it more exciting anyway," Angelina admitted.
"Commentary?" Lee suddenly sat up very straight. That just so happened to be his speciality.
"Maybe you could see Professor McGonagall about it," Alicia suggested.
His eyes twinkled at the thought. "Now you're talkin'."
The group turned their attention back to the game. The Gryffindor team was beginning to fight back and the crowd was getting excitable. Alicia watched on apprehensively as Marcus Flint seized the Quaffle and shot towards the goals. Oliver remained undaunted and kept his cool like the quality keeper he was. Flint hurled the Quaffle and the crowd fell silent.
Alicia gasped as Oliver threw his arm out and deflected the Quaffle towards the Gryffindor Chaser, Mitchell Delaney. The crowd erupted. But the elation was short lived.
One of the Slytherin Beaters had just swung and directed the Bludger in Oliver's direction. He had his eye on the game. Alicia jumped to her feet and squealed as the Bludger struck Oliver on his right side.
"Oh, no!" She put her hands over her mouth and half jumped out of her seat.
The Gryffindor Seeker, Prima Parker, dove and grabbed hold of Oliver before he fell off his broom. Madam Hooch's whistle sounded and the crowd booed and hissed as the Slytherin Beater pleaded his innocence.
Alicia watched on anxiously as he was lowered to the ground and put on a floating stretcher. Professor McGonagall led him out of the stadium to the applause of the non-Slytherin students.
"I hope he's all right," Alicia said worriedly.
"Yeah, brilliant Keeper," Fred added.
"It appears Gryffindor Chaser, Emma Small, will replace Wood in goals," the Head Boy announced.
"She looks nervous," George observed.
Alicia had to agree. Emma didn't look confident at all. Gryffindor were as good as gone without Wood. The game continued to drag on though. The score was 200-40 and there hadn't been any sign of the Snitch.
Alicia couldn't stand the wait any longer, "I'm going to see Oliver."
"I'll come with you," George stood up and followed her.
Alicia sprinted to the castle and ran all the way up to the hospital wing.
"Slow down!" George panted as Alicia knocked on the door.
Madam Pomfrey opened the door and peered at the two of them. "Yes?"
Alicia flashed her sweetest smile and ignored the painful stitch in her side. "I've come to see Oliver Wood"
"Of course you have, dear," she said, winking knowingly.
Alicia ignored the wink and nodded curtly to Madam Pomfrey. The door was opened and Alicia and George entered.. "Thank you."
"Mind you don't get up to any mischief. He's over there." Madam Pomfrey gestured to the bed on the end.
There were several beds lined up against the wall and Oliver was lying on the furthest one. He sat up very suddenly when he spotted Alicia and George.
"Alicia, George! How is the game going?" He then groaned and clutched at his ribs.
"Now, now, Wood, don't worry about that, just drink your potion." Madam Pomfrey nodded towards a nasty looking green potion that was sitting on a table by his bed.
"Gryffindor is getting smashed," George informed him.
"What's the score?" Oliver asked.
"Around 200-40," Alicia estimated.
Oliver groaned and lay back on his bed.
"So what injuries did you get?" George asked curiously.
"You name it, I broke it. Ribs, Humerus, Radius, Ulna. I think I even broke a finger," Oliver held up his index finger that was sitting at an odd angle.
"You broke every bone in your arm? Just from a Bludger?"
"I've broken bones so many times that they break quite easily. On last count I've broken my Humerus seven times."
"You better drink your potion." Alicia handed it to him and eyed him expectantly.
"You're as bad as Madam Pomfrey," Oliver rolled his eyes. He took the potion anyway and gulped it down quickly. "Yuck, nasty stuff, that is. So who took my spot?"
"Emma Small."
"Oh, Gryffindor's in trouble. She's a great Chaser but not such a good Keeper." Oliver winced as the potion began to work and his bones slowly started to re-knit.
"Don't worry about the game, just rest," Alicia advised.
"Just because her mother's a nurse she thinks she's a qualified doctor," George told Oliver.
"I do not." Alicia blushed. Trust George to embarrass her.
Oliver smiled up at them "You two make a cute couple."
George coughed and Alicia shook her head violently.
"We aren't a couple," Alicia insisted.
"Oh, sorry. I just assumed..."
"Me and Alicia? That's funny." George laughed, which caused Oliver to start laughing as well.
Alicia, however, was not amused at all. The last thing she needed was for everyone to think she was George's girlfriend.
A/N: That was a short pointless chapter. Well it did have a point actually, it was meant to set up Alicia's future relationships with George and Oliver. It also explains Lee and his commentating. I always thought it was strange that Lee didn't play Quidditch so I made up a little excuse for him.
I promise the story will get more exciting. There will only be one more chapter of first year. Then we move onto second year and George does something nice for Alicia and she realises he isn't that bad.