Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter.

A/N: Sorry! I know it's been a while but I've had exams and a slight case of writer's block. It's all good now. To make up for the absence this chapter will be extra long. Enjoy!

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Chapter 18

The Gryffindor Quidditch team was having a meeting in the common room late on Wednesday night. They were discussing the candidates for the Seeker spot.

"I've been making a few notes on the most likely possibilities." Oliver shoved a large stack of parchment across the table and everyone groaned.

"A few?" Katie eyed the pile.

Alicia took the first one and read it. Her mouth fell open. Oliver had gone really in depth. Everything from their eating habits to their number of friends.

"You've been stalking them!" she gasped.

Oliver folded his arms indignantly. "I have not. I was merely observing."

"I think they'll see it differently." Fred leaned across Angelina to read the list of students.

Two hours later the team managed to eliminate every person on that list. Now their possibilities numbered zero.

"I had twenty-five people written down and we've managed to eliminate all of them!" Oliver exclaimed, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

Angelina shrugged. "They just weren't suitable."

"I'm tired." Fred rubbed his eyes and stretched to illustrate his point.

Katie yawned. "Me, too."

"You lot might as well go to bed. I'm gonna stay up a bit longer to see if I can come up with anyone else. There has to be someone we've missed." Oliver blinked a few times to keep his eyes open.

"All right. See you in the morning, captain." George saluted tiredly and trudged wearily upstairs.

They all headed upstairs as well, but Alicia stayed behind and watched Oliver struggle to keep himself alert.

"I thought you were going to bed," he said without taking his eyes off the parchment.

"I am and so are you. Come on, leave it till the morning."

"We need a new Seeker."

"You also need your sleep," she reasoned.

"I'm fine, Leesh."

She snatched the parchment from him. "You're an awful liar, Oliver."

"Give it back!" he demanded.

"No. You need to get some rest for everyone's sake. You've been utterly intolerable these past few days. You're constantly grumpy and always snapping at everyone."

Oliver was about to yell something back but stopped abruptly. He remembered back to that morning when he yelled at a first year for running into him in the hall. Perhaps he had been a little grumpy.

"Look, we're just all worried about you. We think you're under too much stress."

"And who's we?" Oliver raised a questioning eyebrow.

"The rest of the team, Lee, Matt, Percy.just about everyone in Gryffindor," Alicia answered with a vague shrug.

"If they care so much then why are you sitting here by yourself giving me a lecture?"

Alicia hesitated and Oliver smiled smugly. Alicia hadn't lied exactly. Everyone was worried about him but they were just all reluctant to talk to him about it because he'd probably bite their heads off.

"So they're worried about me but don't want to get their hands dirty with my problems." Oliver nodded in dark satisfaction as Alicia cringed.

"Then don't do it for them. Do it for me. Please."

"Fine," Oliver finally sighed.

"Thank you. I just don't want you to burn out before the end of the year. We'll find a Seeker soon," Alicia assured him as they both stood up.

"You promise?"

She smiled an optimistic smile. "I promise."

"Good night," he whispered as they went their separate ways.

The next morning.

Oliver slept right through breakfast and was forced to run to his first class of the day. He careened into his History of Magic classroom just as Professor Binns glided through the blackboard.

"Cutting it a little close aren't you, Wood," Matt said as Oliver slid into the seat beside him.

"I like to live on the edge," he said sarcastically as he pulled out his quill and some parchment.

Matt peered at his ruffled hair and droopy eyes. "Blimey, you look terrible."

"Thanks," he mumbled.

Professor Binns began to talk and Oliver slumped forward on his desk. He slept through the entire lesson.

"I can't believe I fell asleep." Oliver rubbed his eyes in annoyance as he and Matt left the room.

"You were drooling and snoring," Matt informed him.

"I wasn't, was I?"

"Hey, Elisa!" Matt called to a nearby raven-haired girl who was in their year.

"What do you want, Hancock?" she asked petulantly.

"Was Oliver snoring through class?"

"I could hear you from the front of the classroom, love," she informed him then walked off briskly.

"Just great. I'll need to borrow your notes, Matt," Oliver said as he tried to make his hair stay flat. He wasn't having much luck.

"Notes?" Matt looked at him in confusion.

"Never mind. I'll get them off Percy. At least he pays attention in class."

"Says Sleeping Beauty here?" Matt snickered.

"Shut up."

Oliver was barely able to keep his eyes open through Transfiguration. At lunch he decided to take a short nap to revitalise himself. Unfortunately he slept right through the first half of Herbology and Matt was sent to wake him up.

Now, Oliver sat in Charms. He was determined to keep his eyes open. Oliver listened to Professor Flitwick squeak excitedly about some complex charm and he made incoherent scribbles on his parchment.

Towards the end of the lesson Oliver was in staring blankly at the Charms teacher when Professor McGonagall poked her head around the door. Oliver showed no interest at all and kept staring into space.

Matt nudged him harshly. "Olly!"

"What?"

"Bloody prat. McGonagall wants to see you."

"Oh, right. You haven't gotten me into any trouble have you?" Oliver eyed Matt suspiciously as he stood up wearily.

"No. Well, not recently anyway."

Oliver wondered what she could possibly want with him as he left the room. Professor McGonagall was standing tight-lipped, which was a sure sign she was tense. Beside her stood.Harry Potter?

"Follow me, you two." McGonagall turned on her heel and marched off down the corridor.

Oliver and Harry followed her in complete silence. Harry was looking slightly scared, Oliver noticed. They were directed into a classroom where Peeves was amusing himself by writing rude words on the blackboard.

Professor McGonagall shooed him then slammed the door and turned back to the two confused boys.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood - I've found you a Seeker."

Oliver nearly fell over in shock. He certainly wasn't expecting that. He wondered for a second if the whole thing was one big joke. But no, McGonagall wanted Gryffindor to win almost as much as he did. A large smile spread across his face.

"Are you serious, Professor?"

"Absolutely," she answered promptly. "The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?"

Harry, still looking totally confused, nodded slowly. He was looking from the Professor to Oliver in puzzlement.

"He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive," McGonagall told Oliver, a slight sense of excitement in her voice. "Didn't even scratch himself. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."

Oliver eyes were sparkling. All his sleepiness was forgotten as he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had a Seeker. A Seeker better than Charlie Weasley, no less!

"Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?" Oliver asked eagerly

Harry just gave him a blank look. He was still confused evidently.

"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team," McGonagall explained shortly.

"He's just the build for a Seeker too," Oliver said as he assessed his newest team member acutely. "Light - speedy - we'll have to get him a decent broom, Professor - a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I'd say."

"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in that last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus Snape in the face for weeks."

Oliver felt butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. A real Seeker! They'd be sure to win the cup now.

"I want to hear you're training hard, Potter, or I may change my mind about punishing you."

Oliver was already beginning to run through plays in his head. With a really skilled Seeker he'd be able to give the Chasers a lot more freedom.

"Your father would have been proud. He was an excellent Quidditch player himself."

Professor McGonagall gave them permission to miss the rest of the class and they stayed in the room and talked.

At five, Oliver and Harry finally went back to Gryffindor Tower. Oliver looked around the common room but couldn't find any of his teammates. He made sure Percy was nowhere nearby then he raced up the girls' staircase.

Alicia was sitting on her bed reading a Transfiguration textbook and Angelina was sitting behind her plaiting her hair while Katie was in the shower.

Suddenly, Oliver came bounding into the bedroom. He jumped onto Alicia's bed and she looked up at him briefly.

"Sorry, but I've got to have this chapter read by tomorrow or McGonagall will do her nut," she told him regretfully.

"Don't worry about that now. I have great news."

"I'm sure you do, but I have to read. Tell me about it later."

Oliver sighed, he hated being ignored. He yanked the textbook from her grasp and threw it across the room. It hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Oliver!" Alicia shrieked in outrage.

"Shut up and listen. You too, Angelina."

"Me, too?" Angelina peered around Alicia's head.

"This better be good," Alicia said crossing her arms testily.

"It's better than good." Oliver beamed. "I found us a new Seeker!"

"What?" Angelina pulled Alicia's hair.

"OW! Angelina!"

"You got a new Seeker without consulting the team? What if we hate the person?"

"Calm down, Angelina. I'm sure you'll all like him."

"You should have asked us!" Angelina wasn't ready to calm down obviously.

"What's all the yelling about?" Katie emerged from the bathroom wearing only a towel.

She spotted Oliver and swore loudly then scampered back into the bathroom. She could still be heard swearing from behind the door.

"A little warning might have been nice!" she screamed.

If Oliver was shocked at seeing Katie in a towel then he wasn't showing it. "So do you want to know who he is?"

"Yes," Alicia said tensely. She was slightly peeved at having her book thrown across the room and her hair pulled.

"Harry Potter!"

Angelina dropped the plait and Alicia stopped rubbing her head. Katie even ceased her cursing. The room was dead silent then Katie poked her head around the door. "Did you just say Harry Potter?"

"The one and only. McGonagall says he's a natural on a broom. I've been talking to him and he seems really keen."

"Harry Potter on our team?" Angelina asked incredulously.

"Yep. Told you you'd like him. I want it to be a secret though so you can't tell anyone. Especially you, Katie."

"What do you mean especially me? I can keep a secret!"

"Don't worry, we'll make sure she doesn't tell." Angelina shot Katie a look and she scowled back. "Even if that means we have to gag her."

"Well, I have to go tell Fred and George now."

"We'll come, too." Alicia stood up, her reading totally forgotten for now.

"Wait for me!" Katie called urgently from the bathroom.

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The next evening the Gryffindor Quidditch team was discussing their newest recruit. They were sitting in a circle on the Quidditch pitch.

"So how good is he?" Fred asked.

Oliver shrugged. He didn't like to admit that he really only had McGonagall's word. "I guess I'll find out at seven."

"He's Harry Potter. Of course he's good at Quidditch," Katie said emphatically.

"He's only a first year though," Angelina pointed out. She was still a little doubtful about Harry's ability.

"First year or not, McGonagall has a lot of faith in him and I happen to trust her judgement," Oliver said.

Alicia stood up and brushed grass from her jeans. "It's six thirty already. We better get inside."

"I have to get the balls from Madam Hooch!" Oliver panicked.

"There's plenty of time," Katie said with a calming smile.

He ignored her and jogged off. The rest of the team headed back to the castle, laughing at their obsessed captain.

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A week later Harry was joining the team for his first training session. Everyone was assembled in the change room waiting for his arrival. Katie kept straightening her robes.

"Honestly, anyone would think you're expecting royalty," George said, clearly amusing by her constant preening.

"I want to look nice. Is there anything wrong with that?" She glared dangerously at him.

He batted his eyes at the tempestuous blonde. "But you always look nice,"

"Damn straight," she growled.

Harry came running in the door then and all conversation ceased. Harry stared and the team stared back. He looked incredibly awkward being surrounded by older students he didn't know.

Alicia finally broke the silence. "Hi." She smiled at him and Harry relaxed a notch.

He smiled back a little shyly. "Hi."

"All right, Harry?" Fred jumped to his side and put his arm around his shoulders.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"Splendid. You've already met everyone but I'll just refresh your memory."

Fred directed Harry over to Oliver and George. "You're obviously well acquainted with our champion Keeper and captain, Oliver Wood. Of course you remember my devilishly handsome fellow Beater, George."

"Devilishly handsome, compared to what?" Angelina snorted.

"Ah. That brings us to our gorgeous Chasers. Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet. At most times of the month they're quite friendly."

"We're always friendly to deserving people," Angelina said pointedly.

"Are you saying I'm not deserving of your friendship?"

"Hmm. You're not as dumb as you look!"

Harry looked on cautiously as the pair continued to yell at each other. The rest of the team was used to their bickering so they ignored them like they usually did.

"Don't worry about them. You'll get used to it soon," Katie said kindly to Harry.

"They fight a lot then?" he asked.

"Constantly," Alicia answered him.

"They always kiss and makeup though," George assured him.

The small introduction over, the team headed out to the pitch. Harry was proudly carrying his Nimbus. In the middle of the pitch the team was admiring the broom from every angle and Angelina went to join Oliver on the sideline as he surveyed his team.

She stepped up beside him. "A Nimbus two thousand? Are you sure the kid can handle a Nimbus?"

"He can handle it all right."

"As long as he isn't falling off during games. It's a fast broom though.can he handle the speed?"

"Why don't you go find out yourself," Oliver suggested.

"All right then." She shouldered her broom defiantly and marched across the pitch.

Oliver smiled inwardly. Could he handle the speed? He had no doubt that Harry Potter was born to fly. All that was left was to convince Angelina of this.

"Hey, Potter, why don't you show us your stuff," Angelina yelled as she approached.

Harry gulped and looked slightly frightened.

"Don't worry yourself," Katie said with a soft chuckle.

"She's not nearly as fearsome as she looks," Alicia added.

"That's debatable," Fred muttered and Alicia shushed him.

"She probably only wants to race you or something."

"A race? Like a running race?" Harry looked up at Katie, his brilliant green eyes wide and questioning.

She giggled affectionately. "No, silly. On your brooms!"

Harry felt even worse now. After all the practice he'd had fleeing from Dudley he'd rather have a running race. Angelina had been flying a lot longer than he had.

"Is this some sort of initiation? What happens if I lose?" Harry asked as Angelina stopped nearby and looked pointedly at him.

"It's not an initiation," Alicia said gently and smiled.

"But if you lose she'll probably never let you forget it though," George said.

"Come on, Potter! I haven't got all day!" Angelina mounted her broom.

Gathering all his courage, Harry gripped his Nimbus tightly and joined Angelina. He shakily mounted his broom. Even though Alicia said it wasn't an initiation it sure as hell felt like one.

"One lap around the pitch," Angelina said. It was more of an order than a suggestion.

"Okay," Harry croaked uneasily.

"Give us a count!"

"On three! One.two.three!" George shouted.

Angelina kicked off quicker than Harry did, but once in the air he quickly caught up with her. Flattening himself down along his broom, he drew level with her.

Fred whistled softly "Look at him go. He's pushing her to the limit all right."

Angelina was easily the fastest out of all of them and she'd always prided herself on her ability to out fly anyone. Right now she was straining to keep up with Harry. Stray strands of hair were plastered to her sweaty forehead and with a sideways glance she realised Harry hadn't even broken a sweat. Gritting her teeth she urged her broom on.

At about the half way mark Harry began to pull away from her. Angelina watched in astonishment as he shot ahead of her.

"Well, bugger me," she whispered to herself.

They finished their lap and joined the others in the middle of the pitch. Harry landed first and Angelina followed seconds later. Harry received many pats on the back and he blushed at the praise. Angelina was watching on, still trying to catch her breath. Harry turned to her and winced slightly. She rubbed her sweaty palms down the side of her robes then offered her hand out to the startled first year.

"Welcome to the team, Harry" Angelina shook his hand firmly.

"Thanks," he breathed a sigh of relief.

She couldn't help but smile at him. Oh yeah, the Quidditch Cup would be theirs this year.

"Come on, we'll teach you some maneuvers," Fred and the rest of the team mounted their brooms and kicked off.

As Angelina watched, Harry quickly joined them. Oliver came over carrying the large wooden crate that held the balls. He made no attempt to hide the large grin on his face.

"What's the verdict?" he asked Angelina casually.

She looked up to see Alicia teaching Harry how to roll in mid air. He performed a perfect roll the first time.

"I guess he'll do," she said with a casual shrug.

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A/N: Ok. It wasn't that long but please don't hate me! My exams are done for now so the next chapter shouldn't take so long. Sorry about the heavy foreshadowing for the whole Oliver/Alicia thing but I figured there had to be some sort of relationship there first. It'll make more sense in later chapters, I promise. The next chapter will be Halloween by the way.

Please review! The knights were smashed on the weekend and I'm sick. I could use some cheering up. Thanks!