Twenty seven.

Oliver was pacing in front of his fireplace. He'd put it off long enough now, it was time to talk to Ayla. He hadn't heard from her all day and took her silence to mean that she was very, very upset. He reached for his pot of floo powder on the mantle piece and set his jaw. It was just talking. He was interrupted in his quest for conversation by the head and arms of Rob Jenkins coming out of the emerald flames that had suddenly issued from the fire.

"Come on Olly boy, it's time to celebrate!" the older man cheered whilst pulling Oliver into the fire with him.

Oliver's head was still spinning when he landed head first on the floor of an unfamiliar pub. A cheer rose up from a nearby table, as Oliver's team descended upon him, lifting him off of the floor and into a chair. When he found himself the right way up, he noticed a banner hung over the table: 'Well done Olly-Boy', it read.

There were several flagons of Butter beer and shots or Fire whiskey cluttering the small table, it seemed the party had begun without him. Amid more cheers Oliver was handed a glass of something that looked like water, but definitely wasn't such a harmless liquid.

"Just thought we should have a little get together Cap'. Seen as you're moving up the Quidditch ladder." said the Beater John Evans.

"Guys this is great and everything. But I have somewhere that I should be and-" Oliver started.

"Nonsense Ol'" said the other Beater Jeremy Ford.

"Yeah, playing for your country is a big deal! You're gonna be in the World Cup mate." agreed Justin Puck the Seeker.

The other men cheered and clapped this announcement, now very much in the party spirit. In no time at all the flagons were empty and Hill and Archer were pushing Oliver towards the bar. Realising that it was physically impossible for Wood to carry all the drinks by himself, Rob joined him at the bar.

"So come on man, spill. Who's the girl? That's who you were gonna see right? Come on tell your old pal Rob. It was the brunette right, from the match?"

Oliver grinned and nodded.

"I knew it man. She's nice. So what's happened?"

"I dunno. I mean I like her, it's just I haven't got the time. With the World Cup and everything, you know?"

"Yeah man I get you. So you gonna let her down gently? 'Cos' you know how these women can get? You don't wanna get her annoyed. She won't understand, with the Cup being a year away and everything."

"Yeah. Yeah I'm guessing I'm gonna let her down gently. It's the right thing to do right?"

"Yeah sure, it'll only cause aggro between you later on."

"Thanks for the advice Rob. You're a real mate."

"Sure thing boss. And you know if she gives you any trouble, just send her my way. I'll sort her out no problem ha ha."

"Ha sure thing buddy."

"Hey what's her name again? Ally?"

"Ayla."

"Right."

Having half the drink Rob moved back towards the rest of the team. Oliver turned to join them, when a voice behind him spoke.

"Hey pal, you talking about Ayla Jenson?"

"Yeah, why? Can't see how it's any of your business."

"Sorry mate, I couldn't help overhearing. But trust me, you're well out of it with that one." the stranger said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oi, oi Olly boy, where's those drinks?" Archer called across the bar.

"Hang on a minute." Oliver said. He took the rest of the drinks to his team and returned quickly to the bar.

"So come on then, what did you mean?" he asked again.

"Look mate, perhaps I shouldn't. I mean it's not like it matters."

"No it does matter, tell me what you meant. I want to know. Who are you anyway?"

"Name's Adam Fisher. I used to go out with Ayla. At Hogwarts." he started.

"I don't remember you."

"Hufflepuff, year older." Adam explained.

"Oh right, carry on then."

"Well, basically she's a nut job. I mean crazy, you know. Completely obsessive. Can't let the little thinks go. Argumentative, vicious, cruel, controlling. And those are just some of her good points. Trust me, if she doesn't like something that's it. Watch out."

"That doesn't seem like the Ayla I know. Maybe you're mistaken?"

"Trust me I'm not. There's no other witch out there like her. I mean, sure she seems like a peach to begin with. She does the sweet, shy, butter wouldn't melt thing really well. But it's all an act. I can't even begin to tell you what she put me through. I mean she told me she was pregnant, so I'd marry her. We'd only done it the once of course and we were drunk. There was no way it was true. I tell you she really lives up to the muggle stereotype of an evil witch."

"For someone who didn't want to talk you've got a lot to say." Oliver said, being cautious. After all he didn't really know this guy.

"Yeah well, she does crazy things to you man. I'm just warning you. I pity the poor sod who gets stuck with her." Adam said, a sad half smiling gracing his features.

"Yeah, well I still think you've got the wrong girl."

"Doesn't matter though does it? You've said you're not gonna go there. Just thought I'd warn you all the same."

"Yeah, well thanks."

Oliver walked away. Was it normal for complete strangers to talk like that? What was wrong with this guy? He clearly wasn't playing with a full Quidditch kit. Ayla was a great girl and a nice person. He simply couldn't believe what that Adam bloke had said. He sat down with his team.

"Hey that looked pretty intense man. What was that dude bending your ear about?", Hill asked, staring blearily at Oliver.

"Oh, you know, nothing really. Just some drunk. Talking rubbish."

"Well you're just in time mate. Richie boy here's gonna get another round in." Rob said, pulling his fellow Chaser into a head lock.

"Nah not for me man. I've gotta go. I've gotta do something. But you guys carry on. Here have one on me." he said throwing a few Galleons on the table. He strode out of the door before they could stop him. The conversation he just had had really ruined his mood. There was definitely something odd about that guy. He apparated home, he needed to be alone. To think.