The weekend to Hogsmeade came earlier than Wood would've wanted. He'd avoided Samridhi at all the occasions he possibly could. There were of course some occasions he couldn't get past. Tonight was one such occasion. She was talking to Fred and George when George called him as he was practically (figuratively was more like it) running from the common room as he'd seen her there.

His heartbeat grew several times faster as he approached her (and them). Tomorrow she would go out with that idiot Flint in Three Broomsticks, he thought bitterly. He'd seen her talk to Flint the other day, and it had made him angry and sick and it shouldn't have, it wasn't her fault that he'd fallen for her, she didn't deserve the cold shoulder he was giving her. But telling her how he felt...he didn't even want to think about it.

"Hey Wood, we were just telling Samridhi about Quidditch rules, she wants to come and see our game against Slytherin, we've explained her the basics but we think you're the man for the job."

"You want to watch the game! What changed? I didn't think you were interested." Wood's interest peaked.

"Yeah well… I thought since everyone gets so excited about it, why not give it a shot", she smiled.

"Okay Oliver, we're going to leave her and her dozens and dozens of questions to you mate, besides, we have to finish a bloody essay on bezoar." Fred whined.

Samridhi gave the twins a pointy look that made Oliver smile, he knew exactly the meaning behind the look and that realisation made his heart skip a beat or two.

"Err… so what do you want to know?" Oliver asked awkwardly, not at all knowing how to act in front of her anymore.

Samridhi's mind suddenly went blank. She had tons of questions for the twins but as Oliver stood in front of her, she could only think of one.

"What happened that day?"

Oliver grew pale. He knew what day she was talking about. The day he saw her talking to Flint and practically ran before he could face her.

"I…er… don't know what you're talking about."

She knew he was lying, he was looking everywhere but at her, trying not to meet her now furious eyes.

"I think you know exactly what I'm talking about Oliver." She whispered ever so lightly but he had heard her.

His heart had now began to skip a few beats. He didn't know what to do, all he knew was that if they stayed on this subject any longer then he might lose control of his emotions that were already hanging by a thread and confess his feelings. He knew (or assumed was more like it) that she didn't reciprocate his feelings and the fear of rejection made him blabber the first thing that came to his mind.

"It's because of Flint isn't it? Why you have a sudden interest in Quidditch." His tone was harsh, accusing, bitter.

Her eyes widened. Everyone in the common room was watching but neither of them had any idea, it was as if they were in their own little bubble.

"Is this what it's about? Because I'm, how'd you say it, fraternising with the enemy?" She fumed.

"No this is not about Flint. It was never about Flint. It is about you and your beautiful smile and your encouraging glances whenever I messed up and your patience and your kindness and forgiveness and"- Oliver wanted to scream all of this to her.

A sudden chill down his spine, as if a bucket of ice cold water had been poured on his head.

He realised that he had been thinking out loud and had, in his own musings, confessed his feelings towards her, to her.

He didn't know what to do now. The cat was out of the bag, he had spilled the beans, Elvis had left the building (yes he knew a few muggle idioms).

He dashed out of the common room, to find a place, any place of solitude. He didn't realise but he'd ended up in the now empty Transfiguration classroom where she tutored him in the mornings. Can't escape her at all, he thought sarcastically as he came to the realisation.

Funnily enough, the next thing he knew she was in front of him, panting, like she'd been running. Oh, he comprehended, she'd been running after him. He hadn't realised, being overwhelmed with emotions, that he had sprinted there.

"Wai- just a second…. let me catch my… breath... you fool. I'm not as fit as you are." She heaved.

Oh, so she'd come to console him, that it's okay, they could be just friends (he assumed, again).

Oh this was going to hurt.

He braced himself.

"Look, just please don't take this the wrong way-"

He knew it, it was coming and he felt his heart breaking.

"-but if you don't stop me now, I'm going to kiss you."

Wait what?

And saying that she closed the distance, slowly, carefully, reading the expression on his face and she came nearer and nearer to him.

Oliver, to his part, didn't know if what was happening was true or just a figmant of his wildest imagination but he certainly knew she was coming closer way too slowly for his liking.

So he took matters in his own hands and grabbed her by her waist and kissed her.

He kissed her gently and slowly, as if he didn't want her to wake up from her trance and realise that she was making a mistake.

She broke the kiss, a smile playing on her lips as she said, "So you wanna explain me rest of the Quidditch rules Oliver?"

He chuckled.

"You know that's the first time you've called me by my name Samridhi?"

And this was the first time he'd called her by hers.

She laughed too.

"So how about the rules, O-li-ver", she purposefully dragged his name, still giggling.

"Oh we've got plenty of time to do that later, love"

And then, he properly snogged her.

…..

The next day, Flint patiently waited in Three Broomsticks for to Sharma to come. He was confident that his charm had worked. They'd go on a couple of dates, maybe he'll kiss her once or twice in front of Wood just to mess with his head and then he'll assess what he himself feels for her. Currently, he was only concerned with throwing Wood off his game.

He flashed a big grin when he saw her enter. She smiled and waved at him and he eagerly waved back. It was showtime.

She sat opposite to him and as he was about to open with a cheesy line, he saw Wood come in through the door.

This was going to be even better than he'd ever expected.

"So-" he started but she cut him off, turning around and calling out for Wood, asking him to join them?

"Oh yeah," she began," so Oliver and I are dating now and I'm hoping we could all just have a butterbeer and talk? So I invited him as well, I hope that's okay. Besides I think this rivalry of Quidditch thing should just remain on the field, don't you think? You guys should talk, you two clearly have so much in common, I mean not that I know you very much but you both love Quidditch at least." She finished clumsily.

Wood had now come and sat next to her, and his expression was just about the same Marcus' own - grimace.

"I'm going to leave now- meet you on the field Wood." Flint said stoically as he got up and left.

Samridhi rolled her eyes.

Boys.

"See, I told you! We're rivals, we're not friends! I don't know why you thought this was a good idea", Oliver grumbled as he gave the order for their drinks.

"I just thought you could be friends." she pouted, clearly faking being hurt.

He laughed as he gave her pouty lips a quick peck.

"I'm so happy seeing you wrong for the first time. Here's to hoping this would happen a few more times in our future." He joked and he raised his (now arrived) glass of butterbear.

She smiled.

Here's to hoping.

Our future.

She raised her glass as well.

~Fin~

...

Okay so I want to write an Epilogue but seeing how long I took to finish this chapter because of no reason whatsoever, I'm going to mark this story complete. Besides, the epilogue will probably be very short and kind of a bonus chapter thing. If there's anyone reading, thank you for sticking by.

...

And, for the last time, as Muggles say, please rate and review!