So, you should know: I don't depict Oliver as he is in canon. Just thought you should know so it's not a shock and nobody yells at me for getting him wrong. Just bear that in mind for 6th year chapters. I also thickened up and write out his accent.

Ulterior Motives

October 30th, 1994
Sixth Year

Leili and Jo were waiting in the stands for Hufflepuff's turn on the Quidditch Pitch; Gryffindor had it now. There would be no games this year due to the Triwizard Tournament, but that didn't stop anyone from practicing. When Gryffindor's time was up, Hufflepuff took the field, leaving Leilani alone in the stands as she watched her best friend whack away bludgers. She wasn't alone for long though, a burly Gryffindor boy with light brown hair and a delicious Scottish accent came to sit beside her.

"Hello," he said.

Leili turned to look at him, "Hi,"

"Oliver Wood," he told her, extending his hand.

"Leilani Akina," she said, taking the offered hand. The awkward tension between them was practically palpable and Leili wished she'd brought a book. "Weren't you supposed to have graduated last year?" She asked suddenly, remembering something Lee had said about him during a match last year.

"I… didnae pass my N.E.W.T's , ahm repeating my 7th year," he grumbled, not sounding at all happy about it, not that he should be. It was an embarrassing thing, to have to repeat one's last year. The awkward silence returned until he said, "So ye like Quidditch?"

"My best friend, Jo, plays. My mum is a big fan, she wanted to go to the World Cup, but it didn't happen." Leili's mom, being a muggle, wasn't allowed to attend and her dad, being an American by birth, had a preference for Quodpot. "I'm only a half way decent player, so I like to watch. I especially like how seekers have to be on the lookout for an impossible flying gold walnut." When Oliver looked at her askance she explained, "The snitch—gold, the size of a walnut, flies, nigh impossible to catch..."

Oliver laughed when he got the joke. Leili wasn't a fan of explaining her jokes; it lost its punch if she had to explain it.

"Is Joe a seeker?"

"Mm-mm, beater." She was only half tuned in to him, only half listening.

"Oh, are you and he…dating?"

"Me and who?" Leili asked him, totally lost.

"Joe."

Leilani blinked before she started laughing, "No! Jo and I aren't dating! She's my best friend, known each other since we were 9."

"Why would her parents name her Joe?"

"They didn't, it's short for Jocelyn. You know her by Montgomery, number 5?" Leili pointed to where Jo was hovering and understanding dawned on Oliver's face.

"Oh. Mon'gom'ry, she's a good beater," Oliver said. Leili turned back to the game and Oliver saw Fred Weasley, who had been heading towards them, turn around and walk away. He wouldn't approach her unless she was alone, a tactic he may want to re-think since she was rarely alone.

Oliver couldn't have one of his best beaters distracted by a girl, so he'd beaten Fred to her. He had to keep his players focused; they had to practice this year so next year, when the games resumed they'd be able to win the Quidditch Cup, he might be graduating this year but he still wanted them to win. And maybe he could glean some information from her as to how he could beat the Hufflepuff team.

"Are you excited for the Triwizard Toornament?"

"You're going to think I'm weird, but no, not really. I've heard horror stories about this tournament, people get hurt, people die. It's a horrible thing, this tournament. I wish it hadn't been resurrected."

"Ye'll just have to wish me luck, then."

"You're going to enter?"

"Already have."

"I hope you don't get chosen," Leili said and then caught the look on Oliver's face. And in the nick of time, saving her from having to backpedal, Jo flew over, signaling the end of practice. "Well, it was nice talking to you," Leili told him.

"You too," he turned to Jo, "Mon'gom'ry."

"Wood. Ready Leili?"

"Ready," she said when she was settled on the back of Jo's broom. "Let's go."

"What was that?" Jo asked when they touched down far enough away.

"I have no idea. He just sat down and started talking to me, it was weird."

"Looks like you've got an admirer!"

"Know anything about him?"

Jo shrugged, "He's a good Keeper."