Disclaimer: I own only the obvious characters. All others that you have seen in books belong to J.K Rowling. What part of that statement is hard to understand?

Authoress' note: I'm really sorry that I haven't updated more lately. School started and it's kinda hectic settling into the new schedule. I promise I'll try to update more.

CH. 5

The next few days, Oliver and Ariel had snuck glances at each other, but hadn't spoken since Sunday. Oliver had Quidditch practice and Ariel had realized the reason that her cousins always complained about their teachers. Snape really was a prat/ git/ asshole that he was reputed as and McGonagall was as hard-nosed as Ariel was told. McGonagall was fair and didn't completely overload on work, but it was obvious that Snape favored Slytherins and always gave loads of work. DADA wasn't as bad as it was at her old school; Professor Lupin was actually pretty cool and seemed to hate giving work as much as everyone hated doing it. He much preferred hands-on work as opposed to book work. The rest of her classes were boring and didn't over/ under- load them as far as assignments.

She also learned that Quidditch was very popular her and that almost everyone (most teachers included) were rather fanatical. Oliver was probably the worst. Since he was captain, he spent all of his spare time strategizing and planning days for practice. If he wasn't so serious about it, it would probably be funny. These things and more were on her mind a lot.

She didn't know how anyone on the Gryffindor team had time to do their work on top of practice. She wasn't sure about the other grades, but she knew Snape had given her class a really long report due Friday on the properties of gillyweed and its uses in the magical world. Plus Professor Binns (who she thought was boring, though his story was funny) had given them an essay on how the Goblin Rebellions and other rebellions had shaped history and their impact on today's world.

Ariel had decided to do both of these in the library where it would be easiest to access information if she needed it. She chose a table away from the prying eyes of Madam Pince and had brought along the CD player that she had enchanted for company. She was just starting to discuss one of the numerous acts in response to the Goblin Rebellions and had Ja Rule and Christina Milan's "Between Me and You" playing (quietly enough that Madam Pince couldn't hear it, but loud enough that she couldn't hear anyone behind her) when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped at the contact, but wasn't surprised that someone was there.

She knew just who that someone was, too. Of all the people she had met, only one wore "Truth" by Calvin Klein and that person was Oliver Wood. She turned around and took her headphones off, stopping the CD so her batteries wouldn't die.

"Sorry I frightened you," Oliver said quietly.

"It's alright ," Ariel replied. "You just caught me off guard, that's all."

"What are you writing?" he asked.

"Oh, just and essay for Professor Binns," she said.

"Oi! That man is obsessed with essays," he said. "Which one are you at now? He gives the same subjects every year, so…..yea." Ariel laughed.

"He's just that predictable, huh?" she asked. "That's almost pathetic. We're on Goblin Rebellions, ect.. And how they shaped history and their impact on today's world."

"Wow," he commented. "Are you in his advanced class?"

"No," she said. "Why?" Oliver pondered for a second.

"If I remember correctly, it was a little later in the year when he gave us that essay," he said.

"Hmm," Ariel murmured. "Well, maybe he decided to pick up the pace a little bit. It's possible there's something he wants to cover with us that he normally doesn't get to."

He thought for a second. "Yea," he said. "You're probably right. I wonder what it is though?"

"Who knows," Ariel said. "All I know is that he pulls some of these subjects from his ass. That's the only possible explanation."

They both laughed.

"Are they giving you a problem?" he asked.

"Only a little," Ariel said with a grin. "It's just hard to write about something you haven't studied in that class sometimes."

"Yea," Oliver said. "That's the way Binns works. If you get stuck or whatever, just ask me. I could probably help you find the right books or whatnot."

"Really?" Ariel asked.

"Yea," he replied. "Surprisingly, I do ok in his class. Which is really funny considering I sleep most of the time." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Yea," she said. "You're not alone. Thanks for the offer. If I get stuck, I know just who to go to."

Both got quiet for a while and Ariel tensed up. Here we go, she thought. He's gonna get on the subject of the other night. She remembered the night all too well. She still dreamed about it. She wondered if he did too. Oh yes, he still dreamed about it. All he had to do was close his eyes and he could feel the way she practically melted in his arms, mouth fused to mouth as though their lives depended on it. He closed his eyes and shivered softly, but not quite softly enough. Ariel noticed this, but wasn't exactly sure of the cause.

"About the other night," Oliver began.

Ariel leaned forward and pressed her finger lightly to his lips. "Shh," she said. She moved her finger, but only for it to be replaced by her lips. The kiss was short and loving, and caught Oliver completely off guard. She backed away and looked at him.

"No regrets," she whispered.

She quickly gathered her things and walked out of the library, almost afraid to look back for fear of breaking down. All she could think was to get to the common room and into the dorm before the flood hit.